More storms are expected in the Victorian region where a well-known local bakery owner died after being swept into a swollen creek.
Max Loweke, 63, was driving to work in a Best Choice Bakery van when he approached a flooded bridge at Whiteheads Creek in Seymour, and was washed away about 2am on Monday.
A member of a nearby SES crew, who was attending a separate job, witnessed the van going into the water.
He tied a rope around his waist and reached the van, but it filled with water and submerged.
Sergeant Geoff Shaw said the water was deep and flowing fast at the time.
"It is a tragedy," he told reporters.
"We encourage people to be cautious of floods and at no time, whether in a vehicle or on foot, to enter any sort of floodwaters. It is extremely dangerous."
Mr Loweke and his family had owned the bakery for more than 10 years, locals said.
He was also a well-regarded member of community sporting clubs, who paid tribute to him and extended sympathy to his family in the hours after his death.
"Every bet placed on a horse now will be done with a tear in our eye and knowing that the great man will be riding it home for us," the Royals Cricket Club wrote on Facebook.
The Seymour VRI Bowling Club said members were saddened by the sudden passing of "esteemed" Mr Loweke.
Police found Mr Loweke in his van about 7.30am and have since removed his body and van from the creek.
Seymour and surrounding areas were pounded with heavy rain on Sunday.
The SES is warning residents to prepare for more rain over the next few days, with thunderstorms likely again on Monday.
A minor flood warning remains in place for nearby Hughes Creek, at Tarcombe Rd, which is starting to recede after peaking at 2.8 metres.
The Bureau of Meteorology has also issued severe thunderstorm warnings for residents in the Central, Mallee, South West, Northern Country, North Central and Wimmera forecast districts, which includes regional towns such as Stawell, Ballarat, Bendigo, Maryborough, Castlemaine and Kyneton.
Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett urged Victorians not to walk or drive through floodwater.
"We have got some very volatile weather in Victoria at the moment," she told reporters.
"It's a tragic loss for that family, it's also a tragedy for the SES workers who responded and we just don't want to see that happen in Victoria again."
STORMS ACROSS THE STATE:
* More 170 SES jobs
* Three reports of cars trapped in water, trees down and minor building damage
* Most calls from Frankston and Seymour
* Almost 80mm rain in Graytown
* 48mm at Whiteheads Creek
* 45mm at Moorilim
* 41mm at Mangalore
* 33mm at Murchison
* 32mm at Booroola.
(Source: SES, BOM)
