DAMAGING winds are expected to hit parts of central Victoria on Wednesday morning. The Bureau of Meteorology said north-westerly winds averaging between 50km/h and 60km/h will lash the state with peak gusts of around 90km/h. More news: Bendigo police uses number plate recognition to keep central Victoria COVID-safe Locations that could be affected include Ararat, Kyneton, Ballarat, Daylesford, Bacchus Marsh. Winds are expected to ease from the west today as the cold front crosses Victoria, easing in western and central areas but lingering at the alpine peaks until later Wednesday evening. SES warned Macedon Ranges residents to brace for damaging winds and be alert for tree hazards. In a Facebook post, Gisborne SES said volunteers responded to a tree down in Mount Macedon this morning. They urged residents to take care on the roads this morning and to remember to look up, down and around for tree hazards. The Country Fire Authority also urged residents who had recently undertaken burn-offs to take extra precautions as high winds continue to lash part of the state. Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said with a severe wind warning across much of Victoria, hopefully residents were avoiding burn-offs in the current conditions. "Burn-offs can also flare up a couple of days after the burn-off, which highlights the importance of making sure your burn-off is fully extinguished and keeping an eye on weather conditions not just for the day of your burn but for the following days," he said. More news: "We urge anyone who has burnt off in the past few days to double check it has been fully extinguished." Mr Heffernan said there are some simple steps Victorians can take to keep their burn-offs safe. "It is vital people do the right thing by checking local conditions before burning off and ensuring they comply with local by-laws and registering their burn-offs. "A two-minute call is all it takes to register the burn." If you see debris on the road or require emergency assistance in floods and storms, please contact the SES on 132 500 For life-threatening situations, please call triple zero. Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: