UPDATE 9.45PM – The Northern Highway between Heathcote and Tooborac has reopened, following a road block that was in place due to rising floodwater, VicRoads have confirmed.

UPDATE 7.35PM – A roadblock is in place on the Northern Highway between Heathcote-Nagambie Road and Campbells Lane, VicRoads have confirmed.

Motorists are urged to seek an alternative route.

UPDATE 7.30PM –  State Emergency Service regional duty officer Brad Jew said a number of vehicles tried to drive through the floodwater on the Northern Highway near Tooborac and became stranded.

“They were lucky and managed to get out of their vehicles and get out of the floodwater,” he said.

“Unfortunately people drive through floodwater and come to a bit of grief.” 

He said at least two vehicles were involved in the incident, but the passengers were already out of their vehicles when emergency crews arrived.

UPDATE: 7.15PM – VicRoads have confirmed warning signs are in place on the Northern Highway advising motorists to take care with rising flood water, but the situation does not warrant a road closure at this stage. 

UPDATE: 6.45PM – Emergency services are responding to a number of distress signals from people believed to be in their cars in floodwater on the Northern Highway. 

A number of distress signals are visible on the Vic emergency website between Heathcote and Tooborac.

Bendigo Advertiser reporter Ashley Fritsch, sat in banked up traffic on the Northern Highway 10 kilometres south of Heathcote, said the area had copped a drenching over the past hour. 

Pictures taken from Barrack Street, near the intersection of the Northern Highway, show water covering the road.

UPDATE 11.30am: The rain might have been causing havoc at Girton, but over at Bendigo South East, it’s having some unusual results.

In less than 24 hours, more than 20 balls have bobbed up in drains across the school grounds!

UPDATE 11am: The severe weather warning for much of the region has been cancelled – but it remains for residents in Castlemaine and Maryborough.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash-flooding, to continue in the north central and central districts.

So far Bureau of Meteorology rainfall totals in the 24 hours to 9am today include: 

Unofficially, much higher rainfall totals are being recorded across the region:

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UPDATE 10.45am: Staff at Chemist Warehouse in Bendigo have been out to buy new shoes and clothes this morning after finding shin-deep water in their back courtyard.

The water pooled after a drain couldn’t cope with this morning’s downpour, seeping into the storage area and store.

Retail co-ordinator Steph Turnbull said the water was ankle-deep in places inside.

“So far we don’t have that much damage as staff were on to it straight away,” she said, adding the store remains open.

SES also joined in the clean-up effort, sandbagging the courtyard to prevent any further flooding with what might come today.

The CBD call-out is one of seven jobs the Bendigo SES unit has responded to so far, with the first request for help coming in at 2am.

The majority of jobs have been for flooding to homes and building damage, plus one tree down.

Deputy controller Natalie Stanway urged people to not enter  floodwaters.

“Although it may look pretty calm on the surface, it does get pretty powerful underneath,” she said.

Call 132 500 if you need assistance from the SES, or triple-0 if it is life-threatening.

UPDATE 10.15am: A BLOCK of classrooms at a Bendigo school has flooded, just a year after they were opened.

Firefighters were called to Girton Grammar School shortly after 8am, when the water damage was discovered.

Flooding affected three floors of a block of classrooms used by junior school students.

The renovated classrooms have been in use for about a year.

“We’ve got plenty of space for the students,” head of junior school, Don Thompson, said.

“Now it’s just a matter of drying all the carpets out.”

CFA units from Bendigo and Golden Square responded.

SES assistance was requested, in addition to the 15 firefighters at the scene.

Senior station officer Darren Eenjes said electricians and the company that had performed the renovations would also be on site. 

UPDATE 10am: 35 millimetres of rain has fallen in Bendigo in the 24 hours up until 9am today, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

More than 20mm of that has fallen since 6.30am.

Bendigo police are urging caution on the roads as the wet weather sets in.

“When it’s been dry for so long, the roads become especially slippery because of accumulated oil and such,” Sergeant Mark Bell said.

“People forget how dangerous the roads can get, so if they could please take care.”

EARLIER: A severe weather warning remains in place across central Victoria on Thursday morning as a low pressure system brings heavy rain and possible thunderstorms that could lead to flash flooding.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast totals of 20 to 40 millimetres, but isolated falls of 50 to 80 millimetres are possible, particularly near thunderstorms.

Bendigo and Maryborough have been named as two areas that may be affected.

Read more: Batten down the hatches: severe thunderstorms forecast

Between 9am Wednesday and 6.30am Thursday, Bendigo had already received 11.6 millimetres.

However, showers are expected to clear the northwest of the state in the morning and ease in remaining warning areas in the afternoon.

The SES advises people stay clear of floodwaters – whether on foot, on a bike, or in a vehicle – and keep away from creeks and stormwater drains.

An update on the severe weather warning will be issued by 11am.

Stone fruit growers have also been warned that the rainfall and accompanying high humidity during Thursday may be conducive to an outbreak of brown rot.