State shuts schools as wild winds hit

Several schools across Victoria will be closed on Monday as wild winds wreak havoc across the state and residents are urged to stay home.

Schools began informing parents online on Sunday night, with Kilbreda College in Mentone, Melbourne, telling parents the state government had advised schools to “transition to remote learning”.

“Due to the forecast of damaging winds overnight and into tomorrow, the Victorian Government has advised schools transition to remote learning,” the message read.

“As a result, Kilbreda College will be closed tomorrow. We encourage students to use this time to complete any outstanding assignments and homework, as well as to prepare for upcoming assessments.”

Balcombe Grammar School, on the Mornington Peninsula, told parents on Facebook there would be no classes due to “extreme weather and power outage”, while Killester Springvale advised a transition to online learning.

The Victorian State government will publish a full list of school closures about 8.30am on Monday.

Watch and Act alerts have been issued across Victoria, including Melbourne and suburbs, the Mornington Peninsula to Wilsons Promontory, the North east ranges, the South West Coast and the Macedon Ranges, as destructive wind gusts of up to 130km/h are forecast.

Victorians across those areas have also been urged to steer clear of beaches as conditions will be dangerous, with the potential for low-lying areas to flood due to abnormally high tides.

More to come