Check Vic Emergency weather warnings and updates

Road closure: Great Ocean Rd from Separation Creek to Wye River

THE worst of the wild weather has passed for now, but snow, rain and then summer heat will hit Victoria this week.

Victoria was lashed with severe winds and flash flooding overnight with homes damaged across the state.

The SES received nearly 600 calls for assistance, mainly due to building damage caused by rapidly rising waterways and fallen trees.

Dozens of homes near Healesville, Warburton and Bendigo are still without power after being battered by powerful winds that struck down countless trees and powerlines.

Senior Forecaster for the Bureau of Meteorology Scott Williams said the yesterday’s onslaught of wind was “widespread and long-lived”.

“There were a lot of places across the state that received winds of 80 to over 90km per hour ... it was quite extensive and didn’t ease until late last night,” Mr Williams said.

Mr Williams said unusually wintry conditions would hit the state and 20-30cm of fresh snow would fall at Mount Hotham.

“It will be showery today and tomorrow, with temperatures down because of yesterday’s front,” he said.

media_camera Oxley resident Erin McClounan in her backyard near Wangaratta, which thanks for heavy rainfall resembles a river.

media_camera Erin, 14, and her cousin Nash, 6, might see the 1992 rainfall record of 145mm smashed, with levels sitting at 139mm.

Ballarat can expect it to get to a bitter 11 degrees celsius today and tomorrow, with the rest of Victoria remaining below 20 degrees celsius.

“The heavy rain is over ... the winds have eased, and are nowhere near as strong as yesterday, but it will be fresh for the next two days and there are still some coastal gale warnings in place,” Mr Williams said.

Along the southeastern coast, the Great Ocean Road is closed to traffic from Separation Creek to Wye River.

Other restrictions remain in place along the Great Ocean Road including the stretches from Cumberland River to Separation Creek, and From Wye River to Skenes Creek.

He added, thankfully, by Thursday Melbourne would warm up and the sun would start to shine again.

“We’re in for some nice Spring weather Thursday and Friday.”

Melbourne is predicted to hit a dry 26 degrees celsius on Friday, with the mercury set to reach a summery 31 degrees celsius in Mildura.

Carisbrook, in the state’s east, remains the main area of concern for the SES.

SES spokeswoman Susan Davie said volunteers were currently out door knocking homes in the rural town, with concerns about rapidly rising streams near residences.

“There’s also been flash flooding out in the Ballarat area, with some homes having been sandbagged around Golden Point,” Ms Davie said.

“By far the busiest part of the state has been the west.”

Ballarat was soaked with 38mm of rain overnight --- the highest total rainfall experienced outside the Alpine Region.

Flood warnings have also been issued this morning for the Werribee River catchment.

People are being urged to drive with caution as emergency services continue to clean up the mess.

Wind speed hit 111km/h at Mt Hotham on Sunday, with Mt Gellibrand recording 102km/h and Melbourne Airport 93km/h.

Earlier, hundreds of residents called for help and trains were suspended as high winds hit Melbourne Airport.

Two men were rescued by water police after their dinghy capsized in Corio Bay and a male kayaker has been treated for hypothermia after his kayak capsized in Mentone and drifted more than 20km south to Oliver’s Hill near Mt Eliza.

Passengers heading to Melbourne airport were told to watch for delays, but all runways at Tullamarine stayed in action.

Earlier, train services were suspended due to fallen trees, including buses replacing trains on the Sunbury line between Footscray and Albion after a tree crashed into overheard lines.

Parts of the Glen Waverley and Williamstown lines were also briefly suspended but services have since resumed with ongoing delays.

Buses are also replacing trains between North Melbourne and Coburg on the Upfield line after a person was hit by a train.

All @metrotrains on Sunbury line between Footscray and Albion are suspended due to tree fall in strong winds. Buses replacing. #7newsmelb pic.twitter.com/J9cIQiJmbq — Paul Dowsley (@pauldowsley7) October 2, 2016

Sunbury Line - Buses replacing trains between Footscray and Albion due to a tree fallen on overhead wires. Info: https://t.co/fE9E9Hyp10. — Metro Trains (@metrotrains) October 2, 2016

Williamstown Line - Services resuming between Newport - Williamstown after an earlier tree fallen on overhead wires. https://t.co/fE9E9Hyp10 — Metro Trains (@metrotrains) October 2, 2016

Wind has shredded the amphitheatre roof at Clifton Park in Brunswick. #7newsmelb pic.twitter.com/C8OGADkGID — Paul Dowsley (@pauldowsley7) October 2, 2016

Winds have reached 90km/h at #Melbourne Airport. Rain & possible thunderstorms developing from the west. Warnings: https://t.co/PihSPvZM25 — BOM Victoria (@BOM_Vic) October 1, 2016

tom.minear@news.com.au

@tminear