‘Life-threatening’: Victoria set to be smashed by more thunderstorms and flooding

More than 10,000 Victorians have been left without power after wild storms ripped through the state overnight, with “life-threatening flooding” forecast for Wednesday afternoon.

Strong winds and a heavy downpour swept through Victoria late on Tuesday afternoon, causing flash flooding events in Melbourne and wreaking havoc at homes in the regions.

Flood warnings have been enacted for the Loddon and Avoca Rivers, affecting areas close to Wedderburn and Boort in the north west of the state, following a 99mm deluge through the night to Wednesday morning.

About 7700 AusNet customers in the east of Victoria have reported power outages with the energy service provider estimating power would return for most residents between midday and 6pm.

CitiPower recorded a further 2,543 customers are currently without power in the regions west of Melbourne.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued further warnings for severe thunderstorms for the eastern ranges and Gippsland hills on Wednesday afternoon, forecasting “damaging winds” and more hail.

“Severe thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall/flash flooding, damaging winds, or large hail are a risk over much of #Vic this afternoon – particularly the eastern ranges and Gippsland Hills where intense rainfall may cause life-threatening flash flooding,” the Bureau of Meteorology for Victoria posted to X, formerly Twitter.

Severe thunderstorms and life threatening flooding forecast to Victoria late on Wednesday. Photo: X/ Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria

Thunderstorm activity over parts of Victoria on Wednesday. Photo: Windy.com

Hail stones ravaged homes in Bendigo on Tuesday, with residents in Bacchus Marsh reporting roads and parklands being flooded in.

Locals in the area were told it was taking “longer than expected” to regain power in some households.

“Electric water pumps means no water either, and we don’t have any gas appliances. Guess who went grocery shopping yesterday and filled the fridge?” a woman in Bacchus Marsh told Facebook.

Residents around Lake Eildon, in the east of the state, were forced to watch on as winds battered their homes, causing damage to properties and forcing trees to fall.

Back in Melbourne, SES crews worked to clear floodwater in Essendon, Fawkner and Benalla as a result of the thunderstorms on Tuesday.

Commuters have been urged to avoid driving through floodwaters, with Victoria Police adding a man and his dog were rescued from floodwater in Wedderburn.

The 60-year-old local resident was driving along Tantalla St when he and his dog were swept away.

Emergency services found the pair waiting on the roof of the man’s Ford Territory waiting to be rescued.

Police, Country Fire Authority and State Emergency Service personnel were able to use a rope to pull the duo out of the rapidly rising water.

The car is now fully submerged near Nardoo Creek.

Heavy storms and strong winds ravage homes in regional Victoria. Photo: Supplied

Wind forced trees to collapse near the Mansfield area overnight, damaging properties. Photo: Supplied

VICSES work clear floodwaters in Melbourne. Photo: X/ VICSES

Hot and humid conditions are likely to dominate the rest of the month, as temperatures are forecast to sit two to three degrees higher than the January average.

Temperatures have hit 27 degrees in the Victorian capital on Wednesday and are likely to spike on the weekend, with the Bureau of Meteorology expecting highs of 31 degrees on Sunday.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Angus Hines said thunderstorms were likely to become an “issue” in the southwest of the country on Wednesday afternoon.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to affect the Gippsland and Snowy Mountains region near the Victorian and NSW border, with large parts of Tasmania also receiving storm conditions.

Mr Hines forecast thunderstorms will creep further north on Thursday, out of Victoria and deeper into NSW.

“There is generally a northeasterly movement to the thunderstorm risk for tomorrow,” Mr Hines said.

He pointed out there was a lack of cloud coverage over southern Queensland and northern NSW, the first time in days since that part of the country had been smashed by thunderstorms.

SOURCE: NEWS.COM