Melbourne heats up before cold front

Melbourne can expect its warmest day since May 22 on Thursday but while the sun will be out the winds will be blowing a gale.

A severe weather warning has been issued for potentially damaging winds across most of Victoria, including Melbourne, with gusts predicted to peak at 100 kilometres per hour around Melbourne and up to 130km/h in Alpine area.

Temperatures might be five degrees above the August average on Thursday but they are expected to plummet on Friday as a strong cold front moves in.

That front will bring rain, as well as snow down to 1000 metres overnight on Friday.