RAIN is predicted for Gippsland's fire-affected communities, but the threat still remains in some areas.
Incident controller Dennis Matthews said the northerly winds that picked up in the morning are expected to last another hour or so and will challenge some of the lines.
Mr Matthews said the fire wasn't expected to run far.
The Bureau of Meteorology have forecast cloudy conditions with isolated showers and the chance of a thunderstorm from late morning with a cool south to south westerly 25 to 35 km/h change in the afternoon.
CFA Stratford Captain and sheep farmer Mike Sears said heavy rain had been predicted for some of the fire area.
"There is rain on the western and northern side (of the fire) and they expect it come through," he said.
Mr Sears said the cool and possibly wet conditions would assist the fire conditions, but the threat would still remain.
A CFA spokeswoman said the rainfall was not going to be of significance or impact the fire, but the downgraded warning from damaging winds should assist firefighters.
"We are expecting a bit more rainfall in the North East, but it's not expected to impact the fire," the spokeswoman said.
"We are expecting a south westerly (wind) change for the Aberfeldy fire which should help with winds reducing throughout the afternoon."
Veteran fire fighter and Cowwarr cattle producer John O'Brien said he expected rain to fall soon.
"We will get some (rain) by Sunday, that moisture is coming down the East Coast from the Gulf of Carpentaria," Mr O'Brien said.
"We won't get a lot of rain this time . . . But there is rain in the system . . . if we don't get it this week we will get it next week.
"The ants have been telling us here at home . . . rain is on the way."
