Severe weather warning issued for Victoria

If you are in Victoria, brace yourselves for wild weather, thunderstorms, damaging winds and heavy rain expected across the state today.

A severe weather warning has been issued for the entire state, with storms expected to sweep through Melbourne throughout the day.

55 millimetres of rainfall had been recorded at Stawell in the state's west and the heavy rains in Melbourne are likely continue through middle of the noon.

And the rains are here! #melbweather #storm @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/i6VUFKTXND — Dougal Beatty (@DougalBeatty) May 9, 2016

A tree has crushed a car & business on The Parade, #Norwood. @9NewsAdel #9newscomau pic.twitter.com/mjQYQY1TdK — Edward Godfrey (@EdwardGodfrey9) May 9, 2016https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/729491454779924483

DAMAGING WINDS around 50-60 km/h with peak gusts of 90-100 km/h are forecast for North Central, Northern Country, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland districts during Monday, with gusts in Alpine parts (above 1000 metres) of the North East, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland forecast districts peaking at 110-120 km/h, particularly during Monday evening and early Tuesday.

Damaging winds of 50-60km/h with peak gusts of 110 km/h are forecast to develop about coastal parts of the South West, Central and West and South Gippsland districts during Tuesday morning.

Thunderstorms and heavy rain which may lead to FLASH FLOODING are forecast for the Northern Country, North Central, North East, West and South Gippsland and Central forecast districts.

The risk of storms and flash flooding is expected to contract to the northeast of the State during Monday.

Mount Hotham has recorded a gust of 113 km/h during Monday morning.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:

• Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
• Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
• Keep clear of fallen power lines.
• Don't drive, ride or walk through flood water.
• Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
• Be aware that in fire affected areas, rainfall run-off into waterways may contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks.
• Be alert that in areas recently affected by fires, heavy rainfall increases the potential for landslides and debris across roads.

For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.