Parts of South-East Australia are bracing for storms and more heavy rain after wild weather overnight caused flash flooding that trapped drivers and cut power to homes across Victoria.

Some places in Victoria had a month’s worth of rain in just one day, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with the worst-hit areas recording more than 50 millimetres in the 24 hours to 8am on Friday.

Melbourne, which received falls of 10 to 20 millimetres in one hour, had its wettest day since April 2024.

The storms cut power to around 6000 homes across Victoria overnight, while the State Emergency Service responded to nearly 200 calls for help from residents reporting building damage, flooding and fallen trees.

“(It was) a very wet day for the Melbourne metro area, particularly in the afternoon when that heavy rain moved through,” Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist David Crock said on Friday morning.

“That caused a lot of a lot of water all through the suburbs. Some flash flooding in the creeks and a lot of water under bridges.”

South Australia also recorded significant rainfall, with 20 to 25 millimetres falling across parts of the Adelaide Hills in the 24 hours.

While the showers are clearing in SA, a low-pressure system lingering over parts of the state is expected to bring more wild weather in some areas of South-East Australia.

The BOM has heavy rainfall and flash flooding warnings in place for Gippsland and part of the Otways – with expected 24-hour rainfalls of 40 to 60 millimetres and 50 to 80 millimetres, respectively.

Eighteen catchment areas are currently subject to floodwatch warnings.

“There is much more to come,” Crock said. “We’re expecting more rain through Friday and Saturday. Some spots in eastern Victoria could see 100 to 150mm over the next few days.”

He said the spring thunderstorm outbreak also brought a risk of damaging winds, large hail and heavy rain across western NSW and the ACT across Friday and Saturday.

Although the BOM warns that flash flooding can be “dangerous and potentially life-threatening”, videos being shared on social media show several Melbourne motorists driving through heavily flooded city roads.

SES duty officer Jessie Schleibs told AAP on Friday that the service had  assisted Victoria Police with six water rescues after drivers got into trouble “due to entering flood water or driving in roads that had water catching due to the rainfall that fell pretty quickly in a short period of time”.

Those rescued included a couple and their two children who were trapped by rising floodwaters under a bridge, according to The Age.

Conditions are expected to ease on Sunday.

–with AAP