"Melbourne and widespread parts of Victoria were battered by wild winds overnight, wiping out power for thousands of homes across the state, bringing down trees and forcing schools to close.

A severe weather warning has been issued for damaging winds to continue through Friday morning.

Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Christie Johnson said gusts of 143km/h were recorded at Mount William in the Grampians, while destructive 135km/h gales were recorded at South Channel Island and 122km/h at Frankston.

Winds began to ease off in metropolitan Melbourne before 10 am but the low-pressure system was tracking towards the southeast of the state."

-- From Herald Sun News

People who live in Melbourne last night may feel the strong wind outside, and this morning, a plenty suburb in Victoria has lost electricity. More than 6000 customers are also without electricity across Pakenham, Berwick, and Croydon. 

Thousands of Citipower customers are without power across Victoria’s west.

Up to 180,000 CitiPower and Powercor customers are without electricity across Victoria’s west, with 156,000 United Energy customers also affected by power outages.

Electricity companies are expecting outage numbers to climb and will be mobilizing crews to restore areas to the network into the weekend.

The Victorian State Emergency Service (SES) is responding to hundreds of calls for help after storms battered the state last night, with more wild weather on the way.

The SES received more than 2,000 calls for help by 10 am Friday morning.

Jamie Devenish from the SES said most of the calls were related to downed trees or building damage.

Traffic lights across parts of Melbourne remain out of order due to power outages.

Damages caused by last night's wind in Melbourne showed in many pictures on the internet this morning, posted by Melbourne residents. 

Storm damage in Brunswick. Picture: Facebook/Marguerite Simpson

This gum tree crushed the fence as it fell into the playground at the Tarralla Kindergarten in Ringwood East.(ABC News: Billy Draper)

The State Emergency Service is responding to hundreds of calls for help across Victoria.(ABC News: Billy Draper)

Hope everyone can keep safe and calm, we are here and happy to help you.