The Bureau of Meteorology said it had detected severe thunderstorms near Werribee just after 2pm and warned of heavy rains and damaging winds hitting the waters off Point Cook and Sandringham by 2.40 pm, and Frankston, Hastings and Mornington by 3.10 pm.Authorities said people in the affected areas should be aware of floodwater, damaged buildings, debris, trees down and fallen powerlines.
“Melbourne is really very much in the hot spot area for storms today, so we could see heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding, as we did in many areas yesterday,” she said.“There is also the potential for the storms to bring damaging wind gusts and large hail, so the best advice is to just keep an eye on the radar.”The warning comes after a massive storm front tore through the state on Thursday, bringing flash flooding to communities from Mildura to Geelong.
On Friday Surf Coast Shire councillor Gary Allen, who is based in Lorne, said loud thunderclaps and heavy rain began about 9am sending people into cafés and shops for cover.Although it had been wet, Cr Allen said he was unaware of any flooding or large trees coming down. “It was quite a significant event last night in Geelong, and we are planning for similar conditions this afternoon,” Mr Bell said.
Weather stations in Geelong recorded falls of 38 millimetres in an hour, while the suburb of Moolap was drenched with almost 29 millimetres of rain in 30 minutes. Mildura, in the state’s north-west, recorded 80 millimetres of rain in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, with 69 millimetres falling in just two hours, after thunderstorms developed near the border of South Australia and Victoria on Wednesday night.Melbourne is forecast to receive up to 35 millimetres of rain on Friday, with thunderstorms likely to develop around midday and continue through to the afternoon and evening.