Melbourne braces for second bout of flooding after freak Friday storm

The Bureau of Meteorology's Kevin Parkyn said the areas most at risk this afternoon were Melbourne and Gippsland. 

“These are intense storms producing heavy rainfall and that scenario is lively to occur into the evening,” Mr Parkyn said. "Please stay up to date and be prepared for more flash flooding

“It’s really important that the community are aware that we’ve got a severe thunderstorm warning current."

Mr Parkyn said unusually tropical conditions had produced an unstable low pressure system that was lingering over the city,the result of humid weather combined with an unstable atmosphere thanks to storm and cyclone activity up north.

“We’re looking at humid conditions in Victoria leading to further showers and storms,” he said.

More storm activity is again expected across Victoria on Sunday, before a reprieve on Monday.

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said the SES had received more than 1400 calls for help during the past 48 hours, from many of whom had become trapped in their cars after driving into floodwaters.

This included 110 calls for help around Ballarat and Bacchus Marsh, 250 requests for assistance in Victoria's north-west, and 600 in metropolitan Melbourne.

“What we’ve seen over the last 48 hours is a significant weather event for the whole state," Mr Crisp said on Saturday.

He again warned people not to drive into floodwaters, after criticising drivers who had done so while stuck on the Hume Freeway in the state's north-west during a deluge on Thursday.

"We saw on the Hume Highway itself … eight trucks and 40 vehicles that found themselves inundated, trapped in water,” he said.

“People that do continue to drive into flash flooding, into water, are putting themselves at risk, making foolish decisions and putting our emergency services at risk.

“I don’t shy away from that warning.”

The SES received 687 calls for assistance in 24 hours, with the Malvern unit alone receiving 120 appeals.  In Richmond, the hardest-hit suburb, the ceiling of the police station collapsed amid the wild weather.

A half-hour deluge from 5pm Friday dumped almost 35 millimetres of rain in the CBD, about 27 millimetres of which fell within 10 minutes. Thousands of commuters were drenched in a storm that produced rivers of rain and blocked drains throughout the city.

Of the callouts, 300 were for flooding, 250 for building damage, with 46 trees down over the 24 hours period, and 25 calls for rescues, SES spokeswoman Susan Davie said.

People should take care around extreme weather events and not drive during such times, Ms Davie said.

"It happens quickly, and it takes people by surprise," she said.

Flooding in the CBD had mostly cleared by 10pm Friday, but there is understood to be significant building damage in some parts of the city.

Melbourne will experience a humid weekend with widespread showers on Saturday afternoon, with a top of 27 degrees, leading into Sunday with fewer showers and a top of 24 degrees. The state will dry off early in the week with light showers then returning on Wednesday and Thursday.

More than 50mm of rain has fallen in Altona, while Melbourne's CBD has copped a dunking of 38mm, Epping has been drenched with 37mm and Viewbank has had 35mm since 9am on Friday.

More than 6000 homes in Melbourne’s south-western suburbs, including in Werribee, Hoppers Crossing and Truganina were left without power as the storm swept through the city on Friday.

Almost 3000 homes in Bayside suburbs also experienced outages. Power has since been restored in both areas.

Rain gushed down the steps of Flinders Street train station underpass, wreaking havoc for commuters trying to get home from work while concert-goers lining up to see Australian music legend Paul Kelly at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl were left momentarily deflated after the stage was pummelled by rain which damaged the speakers and flooded the stage.

Parts of Punt Road and Swan Street were also flooded with drivers getting out their cars to push them through the floodwaters.

The Environment Protection Authority has urged swimmers to avoid beaches, with the heavy rains likely to impact water quality aroundPort Phillip Bay.

“These heavy rains will result in poor water quality for a number of days,” EPA marine specialist applied scientist Alison Kemp said.

“Heavy rains affect water quality in the bay because as the rain flows into storm water drains, it collects everything from leaves and litter to animal wastes and chemicals. And then discharges into the bay."