Residents told to batten down the hatches as a severe thunderstorm moves in, turning day to night.
The Bureau of Meteorology says severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, very heavy rainfall, flash flooding and large hailstones in towns including Mildura, Swan Hill, Bendigo, Echuca, Maryborough and Castlemaine.
A severe thunderstorm warning for damaging winds was issued this morning for towns including Horsham, Bendigo, Shepparton, Seymour, Maryborough, Wodonga and Wangaratta.
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Wind gusts in excess of 90 kilometres per hour are expected to develop with localised flash flooding and large hail also possible. Gusts of more than 50k/ph have already been recorded in Melbourne and Mildura today.
The storms are expected to pass overnight.
Sheep graziers in the South West, North Central, Northern Country, Wimmera, Central, West and South Gippsland, East Gippsland and North East are also being warned to take precautions with lambs, as cold temperatures, showers and strong west to southwesterly winds forecast for tomorrow increase the risk of losses.
The State Emergency Service advises people should:
Social media reaction to the storm: