Thunderstorm Asthma Warning and Severe Weather Warning for Damaging Winds in Victoria, Australia

Bass Coast and South Gippsland in Victoria are urged to prepare for a heightened risk of thunderstorm asthma as severe weather systems, including an intense cold front, sweep across the state. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued an updated Severe Weather Warning for damaging winds, with strong northwesterly winds averaging 50 to 80 km/hr and localized peak gusts exceeding 100 km/hr. These conditions are expected to expand into central and eastern areas by tonight, with convective thunderstorm lines along the cold front highly likely to trigger localized severe gusts, creating an ideal environment for an epidemic thunderstorm asthma event.