A town in Victoria’s west has been flooded as heavy rains continue to fall in parts of the state.

“We’re getting reports that the water is lapping on some of the doorsteps and not necessarily entering the premises as yet, but there’s reports it’s in the main street of the town as well,” he said.

“We’re getting some people on the ground so we can get that information and pass it on.”

Up to 50mm of rain fell near the town early on Friday.

Local mechanic Richard Benson said the flooding was the worst seen in the town since the 1980s.

“I got to work at 7am and didn’t even see any water at the intersection,” he said.

“Come out about an hour later and there’s fire trucks and roads are closed. The workshop of a neighbouring business is actually underwater, it’s probably got about six inches of water going through it.”

A number of roads were closed and some locals were sandbagging their properties.

West lashed, north and northeast braces for rain

Heavy rain is expected across Victoria’s north and north-east today as a rain band moves across the state.

The state’s west and south-west received heavy falls on Thursday night, with 50mm recorded at Dartmoor, 46mm at Portland and 44mm at Edenhope.

Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) senior forecaster Rod Dixon said heavy falls were expected in the state’s north and north-east today.

“[The] rain is now moving into central parts of Victoria and will gradually move eastwards throughout the day and contract to the north-east during the late afternoon and evening,” he said.

“Closer to the ranges, we could see some totals up around the 50mm to 70mm mark and perhaps some peak totals up around 100mm about the north-east ranges.”

Falls of between 30mm and 50mm were likely across the north and north-east more broadly, he added.

Rainband slowly crossing the state today, heavy falls possible. See Severe Weather Warning https://t.co/6PFw17cVIw pic.twitter.com/5w14T7Bn5A

— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) September 8, 2016

Swan Hill, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Seymour and Wodonga could be affected, the bureau said.

Gusts expected in Alpine areas

The State Emergency Service (SES) said it had received about 50 calls for assistance since midnight.

SES spokeswoman Susan Davie urged people to avoid floodwaters.

“Overnight we haven’t had a large number of requests for assistance, however the rain is still moving across the state and our crews are ready to respond to any calls for storm damage or assistance,” she said.

“It will quite windy in Alpine areas in particular.”

Showers were also expected in Victoria’s west on Friday afternoon and there was a chance of thunderstorms.