Flash flooding in Melbourne as wild weather hits - ABC Online

Updated September 09, 2014 17:59:06

Flash flooding has hit Melbourne, causing traffic chaos and power outages in some parts of the city.

Electricity is out in parts of the city, and Barkly Square in Brunswick has been partially evacuated due as heavy rain and hail have caused flash flooding.

SES State Commander Tim Wiebusch said the SES was now receiving eight to 10 calls per minute for assistance.

"There's a lot of flash flooding with water starting to threaten properties, we've got three aged care facilities that are experiencing flash flooding, and we've got a partial evacuation of Barkly Square," Mr Wiebusch said.

"We're starting to see a small number of cars with people getting stranded in flash flood waters.

"I guess the key message to people this afternoon is don't attempt to drive through flash flood waters, it's certainly not safe to do so."

Camberwell Target has also been closed after part of its ceiling reportedly caved in.

Mr Wiebusch said Sunbury had received 25 millimetres of rain in 20 minutes, while Narre Warren had received the same downfall in 15 minutes.

Mr Wiebusch said the short and heavy bursts of rainfall were expected to continue for the next couple of hours.

Severe weather warnings remain in place tonight as strong winds of up to 140 kilometres per hour continue to lash parts of the state.

Senior forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, Phil King, said the storms came in about 3:00pm (AEST) from the north west and have produced heavy rain and large hail.

Mr King said areas of Melbourne, including Pascoe Vale and Camberwell Junction, had received falls of more than 30 millimetres per hour.

"They'll continue through until at least 7:00pm to 8:00pm (AEST) before they start to clear the Melbourne region," Mr King said.

Nearly 1,800 homes in Healesville, Olinda, and Cockatoo are still without power after last night's strong winds.

Victorians have been urged to keep clear of fallen trees and powerlines while emergency crews continue to clear up from storms overnight.

Topics: weather, melbourne-3000, sunbury-3429, narre-warren-3805, brunswick-3056, camberwell-3124, pascoe-vale-3044

First posted September 09, 2014 16:42:13