Busy day for SES crews as storms sweep Vic

Victoria's State Emergency Service has attended hundreds of calls for assistance as gales sweep across the state.

Winds gusting between 80 and 110km/h were recorded in many parts of Victoria as hot, dry northwesterly winds blew through the day, replaced by a gusty southwesterly change from late afternoon.

The SES had attended 420 calls for assistance up to 8pm on Wednesday, mainly for fallen trees and minor building damage.

The highest wind gusts were recorded at Mount Hotham (119km/h), Mount Gellibrand (117km/h) and Aireys Inlet (109km/h).

The cool change has caused temperatures to plunge as it blows across Victoria.

At 9.30pm, the temperature in Melbourne, where the cool change had not yet hit, was 31C, only slightly below the day's top of 33.3C.

At the same time in Warrnambool, on the southwest coast, the temperature was 14C, down from a high of 31.6C in the afternoon.

Melbourne is expecting a maximum of 17C.