Severe thunderstorm warning for Melbourne as torrential rain lashes Geelong
Nearly a dozen people needed to be rescued from floods on Tuesday afternoon as severe thunderstorms battered Geelong and the surrounding areas.
State Emergency Services received 95 calls for help – 11 for flood rescues – in the Barwon South West region between noon and 3.30pm, a spokesperson said.
The rain radar showing the heavy storms hitting Geelong.Credit:Bureau of Meteorology
In two hours, 24 millimetres of rain fell in the Lara and Geelong gauges, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
“They have been walloped,” said senior forecaster Matthew Thomas.
A trough developed across the south-west of the state, from the Grampians towards Geelong, bringing a number of thunderstorms along it, said Thomas.
Up to 7500 people are currently without power in Geelong and the Surf Coast, a spokesperson for PowerCor said.
The company says customers should get their power back between 6pm and 7pm, but it might be sooner.
Storms cells are now pushing east towards metro Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula, and west towards the Otways. VicEmergency issued a Shelter Indoors Warning for the Lorne area just after 4.30pm.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for greater Melbourne for heavy rainfall and damaging winds at 4.25pm.
Storms are forecast to hit Coburg, Lilydale and Rowville around 4.30pm, and Footscray, Kew and Melbourne CBD at 5pm.
Emergency services are urging people to be aware of the conditions and the risk of flash flooding.
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