Drivers were left in their cars after a ‘supercell’ storm turned roads into rivers, while thousands were plunged into darkness.
Several states experienced severe thunderstorms, golf ball-sized hail and flash flooding on Friday.
Footage shared on social media showed cars submerged in deep, fast-moving water outside a shopping center in Frankston in Melbourne’s south-east.
Geelong received its worst rainfall since November 2011, with 67mm falling on Friday.
Victoria’s State Emergency Service received almost 600 calls for help during the deluge.
Meanwhile, many parts of South Australia were battered by damaging winds that knocked out transmission lines.
More than 1,500 customers in South Australia are still without power, while 800 customers will also experience power cuts across Victoria on Saturday.
Footage shared on social media showed cars submerged in deep, fast-flowing water outside a shopping center in Frankston in Melbourne’s south-east
Geelong received its worst rainfall since November 2011, with 67mm falling on Friday
Power outages have also been reported in northern NSW, affecting more than 660 customers.
It comes after several states experienced heavy thunderstorms on Friday.
But Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said the worst of the weather is likely to be over.
“The storm risk has disappeared from Friday for the worst affected areas,” he said.
“There will likely be some showers and moderate winds around parts of Victoria and the east coast of NSW, clearing in most places on Saturday afternoon.”
Cooler conditions are forecast for the remainder of the weekend, while a hazardous coastal warning remains in force for most of NSW.
Meanwhile, there is a risk of severe thunderstorms for parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett and southern parts of the Central Highlands in Queensland on Saturday.
It follows Friday’s intense thunderstorms across the country.
Victoria’s State Emergency Service received almost 600 calls for help during the deluge.
The ‘supercell’ storm brought severe thunderstorms, golf ball-sized hail and flash flooding to many parts of the Southeast on Friday
“After a week of thunderstorms and severe storms developing here and there across Australia, thunderstorm activity peaked on Thursday and Friday, with a low-pressure system crossing the south-east of the country on Friday,” Mr Hines said.
‘As a result, widespread, severe thunderstorms affected large parts of Victoria and NSW.
“This has been gradually weakening and disappeared from the country overnight.”
Geelong recorded 69mm of rain on Friday, including 50mm in 45 minutes as a heavy thunderstorm moved directly overhead.
Mr Hines said some parts of Geelong reported flash flooding.
“Flash flooding occurred in areas where storms brought heavy rainfall,” he said.
“Flooding affected streets and properties, particularly in Geelong and in Frankston in Melbourne’s south-east.
Thousands of homes in Victoria and South Australia are still without power after a massive storm hit both states
‘In most areas, rainfall was not widespread enough to cause significant river level rises or river flooding.’
Melbourne reported 32mm as of 9am on Friday, while the airport recorded 37mm.
Frankston had 48mm of rain, while 45mm fell in Springvale.
In north-east Victoria, Mount Hotham saw 68mm since 9am on Friday.
“Parts of northeastern Tasmania also received significant rain on Friday, even without the presence of severe thunderstorms there,” Mr Hines said.
The largest totals in Tasmania were 60mm at Scottsdale and 52mm at Mt Arthur.
In NSW, the heaviest falls were in the Snowy Mountains and the Western Slopes and Plains, with 78mm recorded at Thredbo, 62mm and Upper Goobarragandra.
Minor flood warnings remain in force for the Lower North Esk River in northeastern Tasmania and the Queen River in northeastern Victoria.