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Hail at Kinglake West. Picture: Jodie Drew
UPDATE: LARGE hailstones, high winds and thunderstorms continue to sweep through a wide swathe of the state today, with Melbourne’s northeast outskirts among areas hit.
A severe thunderstorm warning for the Melbourne region was lifted just before 3pm today, amid warnings by emergency services for people to avoid any fallen power lines, swollen creeks and storm drains and any areas hit by flash floods.
But as the threat subsides in the Melbourne settled areas, the heavy weather continues to sweep east and pummel areas from Shepparton to Lakes Entrance.
And the severe thunderstorm warning — with associated high winds, heavy rain, hail and flash floods _ remains current for East Gippsland, Northern Country, North East, West and South Gippsland and parts of the Central and North Central districts.
The bureau said this afternoon that areas that could be affected included Echuca, Shepparton, Seymour, Wodonga, Wangaratta, Morwell, Traralgon, Sale, Moe, Bairnsdale, Orbost and Falls Creek.
Earlier this afternoon there was hail as the storm swept through the Kinglake and Marysville areas.
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The State Emergency Service advises that people should not drive, ride or walk through flood water and to keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
It says rainfall run-off into waterways in recent fire-affected areas may contain debris such as soil, ash, trees and rocks. People in fire-affected areas should also be alert to the potential for landslide and debris across roads.
The low-pressure trough, which is causing the storms, will move east across Victoria through the day.
A strong wind warning remains current for the East Gippsland coast.
For emergency help in floods and storms, phone the SES on 132 500.