Gale force winds cut power and internet to thousands of homes and businesses across Phillip Island and San Remo on Friday morning, with many residents also losing mobile phone reception.

About 1770 homes in Cowes and 1850 in Cape Woolamai are without electricity, as well as homes in Rhyll (637), Newhaven, Surf Beach (659) and Silverleaves (530), with the estimated time of power restoration about 3pm today.

The last power outage in June, just before the long weekend, saw homes and businesses without electricity for many days and today’s outage has many concerned, with the expected influx of Melbourne visitors for the long weekend with lockdown restrictions ending at 6pm tonight.

In Cowes, businesses on Chapel Street were without power, while most along Thompson Avenue had power.

Sayuri Innes from Youki’s Japanese Restaurant on Chapel Street said their business lost power about 8am but was able to operate because she bought a back-up generator after the June power outage.

“I thought it would never happen again but we bought one just to be sure and so we’re now able to use lights, the till and cook,” Sayuri said.

“We did have extra staff on in expectation of lots of visitors today and this weekend but I told four not to come in, just because we are running on basic power.”

Sayuri said in June they threw out thousands of dollars worth of food, but today thanks to the generator they were able to salvage it.

Bianca McMahon at the Corner Dispensary also lost power but was staying open this morning.

“We can operate until the battery in the EFTPOS runs out,” Bianca said.

Gale force winds hit Victoria overnight and this morning, with trees uprooted around the island and even a marquee at Over the Top events in the Cowes Concourse being blown over.