Australian shares are expected to open lower this morning after a negative lead from overseas.

The SPI200 futures contract was down 9 points, or 0.14 per cent, at 6,263.0 at 7am AEST, suggesting a dip for the benchmark S&P/ASX200 today.

The Aussie dollar is buying 69.89 US cents from 69.78 US cents yesterday.

AAP

Have you got your thinking caps on?

Our morning homepage editor and resident clue writer says: don't be silly! you're bold enough to get this.

We'll print the names of the first few readers to get the right answer.

Good luck!

If you're stuck on a train coming in from the west, this might be why...

Police have requested trains be stopped in the Sunshine area, with delays of up to 20 minutes.

Fingers crossed commuters get moving again shortly.

An update on the (wet) roads.

There are flashing traffic lights on Footscray Road at the Tullmarine Freeway.

Follow the same give-way rules you would at an intersection with a stop or give way sign.

Apart from the weather, obviously, here is what's making news this morning.

Looks like the BoM was spot on with today's dark and dreary morning. 

Here is what our breaking news reporter Zach Hope wrote last night:

Melbourne is set to face its coldest and wettest day of the year on Friday as part of a system expected to drench some suburbs with as much as 30 millimetres of rain.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a road weather alert for rain and powerful southerly winds that will make the expected maximum of 14 degrees feel even colder.

Here is how The Age looks in print today:

If you're heading into the city this morning, now is the time to do it.

The Bureau of Meteoroloy's Tom Delamotte (who is clearly going to be run off his feet for the last hour of his shift this morning) says the clouds are holding fire for now.

"It does look like we are in a bit of a lull at the moment," he just told 3AW.

Light rainfall is predicted over the city for the next few hours.

Looks like the rain might be giving the city's water pipes a workout after a long time of very little use. [EDIT - Reader James tells us "a water main carries fresh water supply, not storm water, so probs used more through a dry spell". Thanks James]

Ferntree Gully Road has been closed in both directions between the Burwood Highway and Clyde Street due to a burst water main.