8.00pm
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Bendigo and Marong's SES crews have now responded to more than 50 jobs, with more rain expected until about midnight.
They include a three-car crash in Huntly North several hours ago which left one male trapped.
Most of the calls have been for flash flooding and household water damage.
3.05pm
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued an updated severe weather warning for parts of Victoria including Bendigo.
It says the risk of heavy rainfall with possible flash flooding remains.
Bendigo, Shepparton, Seymour, Maryborough, Wodonga, and Wangaratta are including in the warning area.
"Heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding has already been observed in western and central parts of the warning area," the BOM warning reads.
"(It) will extend eastwards during the afternoon and evening while contracting from the west."
Forecasts suggest showers and thunderstorms will develop Friday evening before easing on Saturday morning.
Since Thursday evening, the BOM reports Bendigo has seen 49mm of rain and Ballarat has seen 54mm.
This morning a lightning strike at Harcourt delayed a Bendigo train bound for Melbourne.
The 7.51am service was delayed by almost an hour before the fault was repaired at 8.50am.
"We thank Bendigo line passengers for their patience this morning after inclement weather led to a track fault and delayed services," a V/Line spokesperson said.
"With several weather warnings in place across Victoria today, including in central Victoria, we recommend passengers take care, allow extra time and visit the V/Line app or website to plan their journey."
2.50pm
SES crews in the Bendigo region attended more than 40 call-outs on Friday morning - mostly for water inundation.
Bendigo had 25 call-outs, Marong had nine and Castlemaine had eight.
SES North West regional operations officer Anthony Van Heuman said most of the jobs were to do with water getting in roofs and walls.
He said with the break in the rain this afternoon could give people a chance to ensure their gutters are flowing properly.
"People need to ensure gutters are clean and loose items are secure, it can save a lot of grief," he said.
"We had a couple of job with split roof tiles which is bad luck."
Mr Van Heuman said with the possibility of more rain this evening, people should be as prepared as they can be.
"As weather goes, we can never predict where it's going to be," he said. "(On Friday morning) we were certainly busiest in Bendigo but another band is coming through later in the evening, so we're not out of woods yet.
"It depends where the band comes through and where the hotspots are."
BOM senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said Victoria had copped a drenching in the last 24 hours.
"Late (Thursday) and last night saw a band of storms develop from Horsham to the Great Ocean Road that was slowly tracking across Victoria over last 12 hours," he said.
"Many locations across western and central Victoria had a month's worth of rain in six to 12 hours.
"The weather system driving this weather is still in western Victoria and we may see another storm band develop."
Victoria SES member Josh Gamble said crews had responded to more than 400 requests for assistance in the last 24 hours with 70 units active across the state.
Among the calls for assistance was a car stuck in flood waters in Murphy Street, East Bendigo, this morning.
"(Some places) have had a month's rainfall in 24 hours," he said. "People need to monitor conditions and make sure they keep clear of those flood watch areas."
12.30pm
Vic Emergency's flood watch remains in place for the Avoca, Loddon and Campaspe River catchments with minor flooding expected in the areas from Friday evening .
Rainfalls between 20 and 40mm have been recorded in western Victorian in the 24 hours to 9am Friday with higher totals of 60 to 70mm in the upper Avoca and Wimmera catchments.
Catchments across north Central Victoria were dry at the start of the event.
Between 30 and 60mm of rain is forecast in the flood watch area for the rest of Friday with late afternoon and evening storms expected to bring the heaviest falls.
Rain is expected to ease before dawn on Saturday morning.
Bendigo Community Health Services has also produced a number of videos for the region's refugee communities.
The videos were created in conjunction with the Bendigo SES and give flood and bushfire advice in Karen, Dari and Dinka.
The entire series of videos are available here.
For more information on the BCHS Bendigo Bushfire and Summer Safety Refugee Resource Hub visit www.bchs.com.au/blog/710-bendigo-bushfire-and-summer-safety-refugee-resource-hub
11.30am
One Bendigo business has found an unconventional way to deal with floodwaters.
Chemist Warehouse's Lisa Ansaldi was prepared when rain flooded the store.
"We got buckets, mops and nappies to soak it up," she said.
"The nappies are a go-to thing for us. We find the biggest ones we can."
Read the story here.
Meanwhile, the Back Creek near McIvor Highway in Bendigo is rushing along after the morning's rain:
11am
Powercor is continuing to investigate a fault on its network causing a blackout in Strathdale.
A spokeswoman said about 39 customers were affected by the fault, which occurred about 10am.
Powercor crews are on the way to investigate.
"We thank customers for their patience as crews work to restore power as safely and quickly as possible," the spokeswoman said.
10.40am
About 40 properties are without power in the Bendigo suburb of Strathdale.
The outage has been reported in Northmoor Drive.
Powercor has the outage listed as under investigation, and has an estimated time for restoration of 2pm.
9.15am
The State Emergency Service has received more than a dozen calls from Bendigo residents since 9am, as rain started drenching the region.
A spokesperson said most of the calls were in relation to roof leakages.
Bendigo received 11.4 millimetres of rain in the half an hour before 9am, bringing its overnight total to 16.0 millimetres.
Friday, 9am
A SEVERE weather warning is in place for all of central Victoria, as heavy rainfall is forecast for Friday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned heavy rainfall and flash flooding will extend throughout the area during the day.
Rainfall totals of between 30 and 60 millimetres are expected, with isolated heavier falls of up to 90 millimetres.
Other news:
Bendigo, Maryborough, Castlemain, Echuca and Heathcote are all within the warning area.
Bendigo had received 4.6 millimetres of rain by 8.30am Friday.
Flood advice messages are in place for the Avoca, Loddon and Campaspe river catchments.
The State Emergency Service has warned heat, fire and recent storms may make some trees unstable and more likely to fall when its windy or wet.
The SES urged people to check loose items are secured and vehicles are undercover.
Anyone outdoors should move to a safe place indoors. If driving conditions are dangerous pull away from trees, drains, low lying areas and floodwater.
VicEmergency has warned minor flooding may develop across the Avoca, Loddon and Campaspe catchments on Friday.
They have urged residents to stay informed, monitor local conditions and remain alert.
Find out more information about flood preparation at: ses.vic.gov.au/get-ready/floodsafe.
Stay up to date with emergency information at: emergency.vic.gov.au/.
If life is in danger call triple zero (000).
Thursday, 3.15pm
State Emergency Service North West regional operation officer Anthony Van Heumen said the forecasted heavy rainfall could see waterways rise quickly.
"At the moment it is a dry environment (near some rivers), there is a lot of dry ground," he said. "Generally, if it is a long, extended rain, it will just soak in and it's not a problem.
"When you get heavy rainfalls quickly, you get the risk of rivers coming up. Due to the fact the high rainfalls (of up to 80mm) may happen in certain areas, that's where might be flooding."
Mr Van Heuman said it was hard to predict where those pockets of heavier rainfall would isolate but he expected areas in the vicinity of the Great Dividing Range to get the most rain.
"We are looking at isolated showers and storms in central district increasing later today," he said. "By Friday there will areas of rain with embedded storms. the heaviest falls will be north of the dividing range.
"It will be between 30 and 60mm near the north of the range. The reason for the flood watch trigger is that small risk of 80mm."
Mr Van Heuman expected the storm and rain to largely pass by the weekend.
"By Saturday it should be generally easing off and moving through the state," he said. "The big day is going to be Friday for rainfall, we just don't know (exactly) where it's going to be.
"The good thing for people to do would be to prepare early and before the rain. Check your gutters are clear of debris, leaves and dirt, secure loose items like furniture and trampolines. We're not expecting huge winds but it is a good thing to do."
Mr Van Heuman warned people of driving in and playing in flood waters.
"The biggest message from a safety perspective is to not to drive through flood water. Stay out of it," he said. "A car can literally float within 15cm of water."
1.20pm
Emergency Vic has issued a flood watch for the Avoca, Loddon and Campaspe river catchments.
Forecast rain and storms is expected to see minor flooding develop across those areas from Friday afternoon.
Catchments across North Central Victoria are dry but despite that, river rises are likely in the areas of heaviest rainfall.
Residents in those areas are asked to stay informed, monitor local conditions and remain alert.
More information can be found at www.ses.vic.gov.au/get-ready/floodsafe
To see any other weather warnings go to www.bom.gov.au/vic/warnings
Earlier
Central Victoria is being warned to brace for heavy rain with the potential to lead to flash flooding on Friday.
The Bureau Meteorology issued the severe weather warning just after 10.20am today.
It warns a deepening low pressure trough is coming across Victoria today and will combine with tropical moisture from the upper atmosphere to create statewide rainfall and thunderstorms on Friday.
These storms could lead to flash flooding.
More news:
Western Victoria's forecast suggeest rain will develop early on Friday before spreading east into the warning area.
Rainfalls of 30 to 60 millimetres are expected in the warning area - which includes Bendigo, Daylesford and Echuca - with isolated heavier falls of 80 to 90mm also possible. The heaviest falls are expected in the late afternoon and evening with the storms.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
- Pull over if the roads are dangerous away from trees, drains, low-lying areas and floodwater. Avoid travel if possible.
- Avoid dangerous hazards, such as floodwater, mud, debris, damaged roads and fallen trees.
- Check loose items, such as outdoor settings, umbrellas and trampolines are secure. Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
- Stay indoors and away from windows.
- If outdoors, move to a safe place indoors. Stay away from trees, drains, gutters, creeks and waterways.
- Stay away from fallen powerlines - always assume they are live.
- Be aware that in fire affected areas, rainfall run-off into waterways may contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks. Heavy rainfall may also increase the potential for landslides and debris across roads.
- Monitor weather warnings, forecasts and river levels at the Bureau of Meteorology website VicEmergency website/app/hotline.
The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 5pm today.
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