The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for a majority of Victoria with locally destructive winds expected to develop on Wednesday.

According to the warning released on Tuesday morning, damaging gusts up to 100km/h were likely to develop over south west Victoria and extend eastwards to most of the state, including Wangaratta in the afternoon.

Conditions were expected to ease in the north of the state by Wednesday evening.

As of 2pm Tuesday, Wangaratta was forecasted for 3-15mm of rain with a chance of a thunderstorm in the morning, with winds potentially reaching 45km/h in the early afternoon.

Temperatures were expected to reach a maximum of 24 degrees.

Monitor weather warnings, forecasts and river levels at the Bureau of Meteorology website, and warnings through VicEmergency website/app/hotline.

You can report new power faults and emergencies online www.ausnetservices.com.au/outages/report-a-fault or on 13 17 99.

For emergency services, call the SES on 132 500.

CFA is urging landowners to rethink burning off activities tomorrow due to strong winds forecasted on Wednesday.

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said conditions over the next 24 hours are dangerous for burning off.

“We’re asking the community to be aware of your local conditions and stop burning off activities until safe to do so,” he said.

“We know burn-offs can flare-up several days afterwards, so it is important residents are consistently monitoring wind conditions before and after their burning day, while also notifying their neighbours to be mindful of smoke.

“If you light a fire to burn-off, you own it. Please don’t leave your burn-off unattended and always make sure it is extinguished properly with water.

“Victorians should be registering their burn-offs online through the Fire Permits Victoria website to help agencies manage fire risk effectively.”