'Prepare to take shelter': Warning for Victorians as wild weather hits ...

Millions of people across Victoria are being warned to prepare to take shelter as the destructive weather worsens this morning.

In an update early today, the Bureau of Meteorology warned a strong cold front is sweeping over central Victoria to the east of Melbourne, bringing destructive winds, thunderstorms, heavy rain and abnormally high tides.

Wind gusts in the early hours reached more 100 km/h or more in many areas, including in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda, but they could reach up to 130km/h in some parts.

Locations affected include Melbourne Horsham, Warrnambool, Bendigo, Seymour, Maryborough, Ballarat, Geelong, Wangaratta, Traralgon and Bairnsdale, in what is expected to be one of the worst weather events this year.

Wild winds lashed the state overnight, and the State Emergency Service (SES) is urging people to avoid travel and work from home today.

The SES responded to more than 1300 call-outs over the past 24 hours, with the majority of those for trees downed and building damage. The busiest areas included Warragul. Moe, Emerald and Corio.

Emergency authorities are also concerned about the impact of high tides in the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island- forecast to be some of the largest this year - this morning.

The SES took to social media, saying they were experiencing a "significant number of calls".

"If you need emergency assistance for storm damage or flooding, please be patient and keep trying.

If your need is not urgent, please try again later."

Commuters are being warned rail services in Melbourne have been impacted by the wild weather.

Train services on the Sandringham Line have been suspended due to "extreme conditions" damaging overhead power lines in the Brighton Beach and Middle Brighton areas.

The Frankston Line is experiencing major delays because of storm damage to the Station Street level crossing equipment in the Mordialloc area.

On the Pakenham and Craigieburn Line, a tree across the tracks has also led to delays.

Coaches are replacing trains between Bairnsdale and Southern Cross due to the obstructions on tracks on the V/Line Gippsland line.

Liberal MP Richard Riordan, who lives near Colac, reported a hectic night on social media, saying there would be a substantial clean-up ahead.

Some Victorian schools in the city's south-east will also close today due to the dangerous conditions.

The Ausnet website says that 70,000 of their customers are currently without power.

Wave peaks could peak at 7 to 9 metres, the bureau said.

The SES says they may cause flooding in low-lying areas and residents should prepare to take shelter.

"It really doesn't get more significant than this when it comes to severe weather," SES Chief Officer Tim Wiebusch said.

Power outages were likely, officials warned.

"To see something this strong is a little unusual, something you see every three to five years," weather bureau senior meteorologist Michael Efron said.

A powerful cold front is moving through and forecasters say it's the equivalent of a category 3 cyclone.

Police discovered the woman's body in the wreckage on Merool Road in Moama.

Paramedics treated a 63-year-old man for injuries to his right hand, and he was taken to Echuca Hospital for further treatment.

Beach conditions in these areas will be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and areas exposed to the seas.

Abnormally high tides leading to flooding at low-lying coasts are also possible about Western Port and other parts of the Central coast.

Meanwhile, the bureau has issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds in southeastern New South Wales and the ACT.

Gusts averaging 60km/h to 70 km/h, with peak gusts of around 100km/h, are forecast for the Sydney metropolitan, Illawarra, South Coast, Blue Mountains and Hunter regions from this morning.

The winds in Victoria and NSW are expected to ease by late this morning.