The car enters the floodwaters in South Melbourne. Picture: Screengrab

But it seems some of us just aren’t getting the message, including at least one driver in South Melbourne yesterday.

A P-plater had a lucky escape, emerging with only his pride hurt, after he ignored warnings and drove through floodwater.

Footage shows the man entering the water under the York St Bridge yesterday afternoon as Victoria was battered by massive rainfalls.

A group of men can be seen in the background, one armed with a fishing rod, while cries of “no, no, no” can be heard.

The driver becomes stuck as his car tilts up in the water with bystanders quickly coming to help get his car out.

The car is stuck and tilts forward in floodwaters under the York St Bridge in South Melbourne.Source:Channel 9

Once safely out of harm’s way, the driver opens the door as rainwater pours out.

Paris Diaz Jordanou, who was having a coffee around the corner as the rain came down, told Today, he was armed with the fishing rod as a joke and never expected one car, let alone two to enter the water.

“It all happened organically it was bit of a light bulb moment,” he told hosts Syliva Jeffreys and Tom Steinfort of the fishing rod moment.

“This time of year where there’s a torrential downpour, somebody usually drives through there so we thought we’d come and have a look,” he said.

Victorian State Emergency Service duty officer Andrew Murton told news.com.au this incident showed people clearly weren’t getting the message about staying out of the water.

Mr Murton said the SES conducted 41 flood rescues alone yesterday and reiterated the dangers people faced when crossing waterways.

“For whatever reason, people think they can get through,” he said.

“But as we’ve seen it doesn’t take a lot of water for cars to float and in some cases get carried away.

“This happens time and time again. People not only put themselves at risk but also the emergency services who respond.”

Paris Diaz Jordanou said he got his fishing rod out for a laugh with his mates.Source:Channel 9

Mr Murton said potential dangers also lurked under the water as well.

Floating debris and hidden drains added to the risk for those who dared to walk or drive across floodwater, he said.

WILD WEATHER

Victoria copped a battering during yesterday’s storm with the SES responding to more than 1800 calls for help from midnight yesterday until 7am today.

The rain came quickly, with about 18mm falling in some parts in just 10 minutes during yesterday afternoon.

Senior Bureau or Meteorology forecaster Dean Stewart told AAP Melbourne was in for a much drier day today.

After a minimum of 20C, today’s forecast will be 28, partly cloudy but mostly dry for the day before dipping to 24C tomorrow and Sunday.

The storm did bring some relief to the humid and hot conditions plaguing Melbourne for days, with the temperature dropping 10C in an hour after a top of 33C.

The downpour affected public transport, with a number of trams having to divert past flooded roads, while some trainlines experienced delays.

At Melbourne Airport flights were delayed when ground crews were called inside just before 3pm as lightning passed overhead, an airport spokesman said.

Meanwhile as Melbourne copped a battering, Sydney sweltered as the mercury soared to 36.6C in the city and 40.6C in the west.

Forecasters warned there would be little respite from the heat, which was set to continue until at least Monday, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The BoM warned that high humidity was making things feel even hotter than normal.

Sydney is due for a top of 35C today in the city with a chance of storms, followed by a cooler 28C on Saturday and Sunday.

South Australians have also been hit with some wild weather this week. Up to 9000 homes remain without power, three days after storms battered the state.

The cost of the storms, the third in three months, is expected to run into the millions of dollars, according to The Advertiser.

Adelaide can expect a top of 24C today with showers, with more rain and a top of 25C across Saturday and Sunday.

debra.killalea@news.com.au