Wild weather on to hit Victoria Tuesday

Victoria is in for a day of wild weather, with high winds over most of the state, blizzards in alpine areas and possible flooding in metropolitan Melbourne.

A severe weather warning has been issued for southern and mountain districts of Victoria on Tuesday. Damaging winds of 50 to 70km/h, gusting up to 100km/h, are expected.

A deep low pressure system is passing south of Tasmania while a cold front has begun crossing Victoria, Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Terry Ryan says.

"It's a very quick-moving change and there is a fair bit of wind around it," he told AAP.

"Showers should start developing in southern Victoria and they should get over the ranges too.

"We're expecting showers all through the state and by tonight there will be snow down to 600 metres, and possible hail and thunder developing later in the afternoon in the south moving through Melbourne tonight."

That snow should fall over much of the Dandenong Ranges, the Yarra Ranges and hills around Melbourne.

The severe weather warning affects the North Central, Central, South West, South and West Gippsland, East Gippsland and North East forecast districts.

The State Emergency Service has warned people to move vehicles under cover and away from trees, secure and store loose items, and stay clear of fallen powerlines.

A sheep graziers warning is in place for the same regions, as well as the Wimmera district.

Rivers and creeks in the Melbourne metropolitan area could also flood in coming days.

A flood watch has been issued for the Greater Melbourne catchment, which includes the Yarra, Maribyrnong, Werribee and Bunyip rivers, the Dandenong Creek, and their tributaries.

Recent rain has brought the eastern portion of the catchment to near-saturation point - and up to 50 millimetres of rain could fall in parts of the Melbourne area by Wednesday night.

Minor flooding is expected from late Tuesday.