Update, 6.30pm:
POWER has been restored to most homes in Bendigo after significant outages.
Thousands of homes in the north of the state remain without power.
Some Powercor customers in Nanneella, Rochester, Timmering, Bamawn and Echuca are still without power.
Most power is expected to be restored by 7 or 7.30pm.
A total of 33.6 millimetres of rain has fallen on Bendigo since 4.30pm, Friday.
Heavy wind and rains caused havoc across central Victoria between 3 and 5pm, destroying a house in Axe Creek.
4pm:
HUNTLY and Epsom have been hardest hit by power outages, with respectively 1092 and 626 customers without electricity supply.
Electricity is down to more than 7000 households across the state following heavy rainfalls.
More than 300 customers in Goornong, 284 in White Hills, 161 in North Bendigo and 140 in Bagshot are without power.
Other areas affected include Wellsford, Axedale, Goornong, Muskerry, Toolleen, Barnadown and Fosterville.
Further north some homes in Nanneella, Rochester, Lockington, Neilborough, Whipstick, Bamawn, Kotta, Fentons Creek and Echuca are without power.
Power is due to be restored to most customers by 6.30pm on Saturday.
The cause of the outages is under investigation.
More than 31 millimetres has fallen since rain began during Friday evening.
3.20pm:
HEAVY rain has kept Bendigo wet on Saturday, but there might not be much more hit the gauges.
Bendigo has had 28.6 millimetres, with heavy falls overnight, during the morning and afternoon.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Keris Arndt said the rain was easing.
"Once the cold front moves through, and it's just about at Bendigo now, we'll see it ease up," Mr Arndt said.
Areas to the south of Bendigo have received the most rainfall since Friday night, with Mount Macedon clocking up 44 millimetres.
Earlier:
RAIN drenched Bendigo overnight, and is forecast to continue throughout Saturday.
The city received 13.8 millimetres between 4pm Friday and 9am Saturday. Another 9.2 millimetres had fallen by midday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of damaging winds which could hit Castlemaine, Maryborough and Kyneton.
Read more: Heavy wind likely to hit the region
Winds of 60-70 kilometres per hour, with gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour are expected in areas above 500 metres.
The windy weather is forecast ahead of a cold front, expected to move across Victoria on Saturday.
The State Emergency Service has advised people to move vehicles under cover or away from trees, secure loose items around their houses, yards and balconies, and keep clear of fallen power lines.
BoM forecast falls of 4-10 millimetres between 1pm and 4pm in Bendigo. Falls of 2-6 millimetres are expected between 4 and 7pm, easing off into the evening.
Significant rainfall hit the region overnight on Friday.
Castlemaine received 14.2 millimetres of rain to 9am Saturday and Maryborough 11.
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Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
