Melbourne roads flooded as severe thunderstorms hit Victoria
Wild weather has lashed Victoria, flooding Melbourne roads and blanketing Geelong in hail, after severe thunderstorms warnings were issued for across the state.
Victorians have been warned to beware of thunderstorm asthma as the storms take hold.
The Bureau of Meteorology this afternoon issued a severe thunderstorm warning, advising damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall were expected in Melbourne, on the Mornington Peninsula, in the Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula areas, in the state’s south-east, and across Port Phillip Bay.
Large hailstones have battered Geelong while heavy rainfall has hit right across Melbourne.
Melbourne roads have been flooded, including the Westgate Freeway.
Firefighters have had to help remove two cars trapped in deep water on York Street in South Melbourne.
According to Fire Rescue Victoria, the drivers and their passengers managed to safely evacuate themselves before firefighters arrived on scene.
One of the drivers told 9News that the flood waters caused his car to turn off and he was forced to call Triple Zero.
“I wasn’t able to drive,” he said.
The rain was so ferocious in Melbourne at about 5pm that tram services were forced to halt briefly.
Strong winds have reached gusts of 106km/h at Melbourne Airport according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
The BoM is advising people to avoid floodwaters and to stay indoors where possible.
A general severe thunderstorm warning was also earlier issued for parts of Gippsland.
The Victorian Department of Health has warned all Victorians to beware of an elevated risk of thunderstorm asthma due to the unexpected storm activity in combination with the high pollen count.
Anyone who suffers from asthma or hay fever has been advised to stay inside during storms and to carry asthma medication at all times.
