Dust storm engulfs country towns as severe winds lash Victoria and NSW

A dust storm has swept through Mildura and Swan Hill in Victoria's northwest as wild winds batter the state.

Twitter users posted photos and videos of the town suddenly shrouded in thick red dust just after midday today.

Do you have photos or video of the wild weather? Send them to contact@9news.com.au

A severe weather warning was issued this morning for people in the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, North East, South West, Central, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland areas.

Damaging winds around 60km/h with peak gusts of 90-100km/h are expected, with wind gusts over Alpine areas possibly reaching 110km/h.

Weatherzone meteorologist Alex Zadnik said the weather was caused by a cold front moving across South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania attached to an intense low pressure system.

He said dust storms were not uncommon when a system of this kind hit an area of prolonged drought and moved through the Great Dividing Range, where it loses a lot of moisture.

“With that front, there are some strong winds, and it’s the changing pressure combined with the top soil that whips up the dust,” he said.

“There’s top soil because of a lack of rain. Some of the most notable dust storms in history followed a period of prolonged drought.”

Mr Zadnik said the severe weather would continue to pummel the south-east of the country until the late afternoon.

The Bureau of Meteorology reported that since midnight the highest wind gusts measured have been Mt Hotham 106km/h, Mt Buller 113km/h and Mount William 95km/h.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:

• Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.

• Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.

• Keep clear of fallen power lines.

• For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.