Drivers were left stranded in their cars after a ‘supercell’ storm transformed roads into rivers, while thousands were plunged into darkness.
Several states battled severe thunderstorms, golf ball-sized hail and flash flooding on Friday.
Footage shared on social media showed cars submerged in deep, fast-flowing water outside a shopping mall in Frankston in Melbourne’s south east.
Geelong suffered its worst rainfall since November 2011 with 67mm falling on Friday.
Victoria’s State Emergency Service received almost 600 calls for help amid the deluge.
Meanwhile, many parts of South Australia were pummelled by damaging winds that knocked out transmission lines.
More than 1,500 customers in South Australia remain without power, while 800 customers are also experiencing power outages across Victoria on Saturday.
Footage shared on social media showed cars submerged in deep, fast-flowing water outside a shopping mall in Frankston in Melbourne ‘s south east
Geelong suffered its worst rainfall since November 2011 with 67mm falling on Friday
Power outages have also been reported in northern NSW, with more than 660 customers affected.
It comes after several states battled severe thunderstorms on Friday.
But Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said the worst of the weather has likely passed.
‘The storm risk has cleared for the worst affected areas from Friday,’ he said.
‘There are likely to be some showers and moderate winds around parts of Victoria and the east coast of NSW, clearing in most places by Saturday afternoon.’
Cooler conditions are forecast for the rest of the weekend, while a hazardous coast warning remains in place for most of NSW.
Meanwhile, there’s a risk of severe thunderstorms for parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett and southern parts of the central highlands in Queensland on Saturday.
It follows Friday’s intense thunderstorm activity across the country.
Victoria’s State Emergency Service received almost 600 calls for help amid the deluge.
The ‘supercell’ storm brought severe thunderstorms, golf ball-sized hail and flash flooding to many parts of the south east on Friday
‘After a week which saw thunderstorms and severe storms pop up here and there around Australia, the thundery activity really peaked on Thursday and Friday with a low pressure system crossing the south east of the country on Friday,’ Mr Hines said.
‘This saw widespread, severe thunderstorms effect large parts of Victoria and NSW.
‘This has been gradually weakening and appearing away from the country through the overnight hours.’
Geelong recorded 69mm of rainfall on Friday, including included 50mm in 45 minutes as a severe thunderstorm moved directly overhead.
Mr Hines said some parts of Geelong reported flash flooding.
‘Flash flooding occurred in areas where storms delivered heavy rain,’ he said.
‘Flooding affected streets and property, most specifically in Geelong and in Frankston in southeastern Melbourne.
Thousands of homes across Victoria and South Australia remain without power after a massive storm swept over both states
‘In most areas the rainfall wasn’t widespread enough to cause significant river level risers or riverine flooding.’
Melbourne reported 32mm since 9am on Friday while the airport saw 37mm.
Frankston had 48mm of rain, while 45mm fell in Springvale.
In the northeast of Victoria, Mt Hotham saw 68mm since 9am on Friday.
‘Parts of northeast Tasmania also accumulated significant rain on Friday, even without the presence of severe thunderstorms there,’ Mr Hines said.
The largest totals in Tasmania were 60mm at Scottsdale and 52mm at Mt Arthur.
In NSW, the heaviest falls were in the Snowy Mountains and the western slopes and plains, with 78mm recorded at Thredbo, 62mm and Upper Goobarragandra.
Minor flood warnings remain in place for Lower North Esk River in northeast Tasmania and the Queen River in northeast Victoria.
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