Australia Weather News

Cars and trucks were stranded in fast rising floodwaters on the Hume Freeway north of Wangaratta. - ABC

Victoria's north-east has been hit hard by torrential rain and flash flooding as intense storms sweep across the state, delivering up to a month's worth of rain in a single day and stranding cars on a major freeway.

A low-pressure system across Victoria has created a deluge which is expected to bring more rain overnight.

In Queensland, destructive winds, flooding and wild weather is expected to batter the state as Tropical Cyclone Owen intensifies into a category-three system.

At least 100 cars were trapped in flash floods on the Hume Freeway north of Wangaratta, in north-eastern Victoria, when they were caught out by heavy rainfall.

But the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is warning Victorians to prepare for more heavy rainfall and thunderstorms overnight, mainly in the north.

The rainstorms are forecast to continue on Friday, mainly near the coast.

Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said 17 people had to be rescued by helicopter from the Hume near Wangaratta.

"What we've seen today, some people have made some foolish decisions because what we've finished up with is about 100 people that have been trapped on the Hume Highway in their vehicles and on their vehicles," he said.

A number of stranded motorists climbed onto the roofs of their vehicles until they could be rescued.

Mr Crisp said the helicopter rescues would be expensive.

"It's thousands and thousands of dollars that have been committed to these rescues that have happened today and again, that's why we have those services, that's why we have those specialists, but let's save them for what they're actually really needed to do," he said.

With more rain forecast, Mr Crisp urged people not to walk or drive in floodwaters.

"We know we're not out of the woods yet," he said.

"There's still more rain to come across the north-east and we know potentially we'll see more rain tomorrow."

Several people left stranded by the floodwaters were taken to safety in a high-rail vehicle on train tracks.

They included a pregnant woman and a couple with an infant in a carry-cot.

The vehicle was high enough off the ground to clear the floodwaters on the train tracks.

The State Emergency Service (SES) said it had received more than 400 calls for help.

Relief centres have opened in Wangaratta, Chiltern and Wodonga for people affected by flooding.

SES chief officer Tim Wiebusch joined Mr Crisp in pleading with motorists to steer clear of floodwaters.

"We're responding to people who have driven into floodwaters yet again," Mr Wiebusch said.

He said the Hume Freeway is likely to be affected by flooding for the next 48 hours.

But he said many other local roads in the north-east had also been cut off by floodwaters.

"We're advising people to be aware of your conditions, drive to the conditions and don't attempt to drive through flash floodwaters," he said.

More rain on the way

Everton, 20 kilometres south-east of Wangaratta, received the day's highest rainfall total of 165 millimetres.

Carboor Upper, south of Wangaratta, received 125 millimetres.

Eldorado, east of Wangaratta, received 110 millimetres and 84 millimetres fell at Mount Buffalo.

The BOM said more heavy rain will develop during Friday morning.

Areas that may be affected include Mildura, Horsham, Warrnambool, Bendigo, Shepparton, Seymour, Maryborough, Ballarat, Geelong, Melbourne, Wodonga, Wangaratta, Traralgon and Bairnsdale.

Emergency services issued a flood warning for Wangaratta, Byawatha, Peechelba, Markwood, Everton, Carboor, Moyhu and surrounding areas including the Hume Freeway.

The warning said that heavy rainfall was causing localised flash flooding, and urged people to immediately move indoors away from floodwaters.

Melbourne also received plenty of rain, with 48 millimetres recorded at Sandringham in the city's south, 47 millimetres at Keilor in the north-west and 33 millimetres in the city.

Intense rainfall and flooding was also reported at a number of other sites across Melbourne including Montague Street in South Melbourne, Victoria Street at Footscray, and Maribyrnong Road.

Emergency crews brought in chainsaws to remove a fallen tree affecting inbound traffic on King St in the city this morning..

ABC