By Renee Wood
The Yarra Ranges have been lashed by storms and wild winds throughout the evening and into the morning with a severe weather warning still in place for damaging winds over southern Victoria.
Winds are expected to reach 100 kilometres per hour but the Bureau of Meteorology said they should die off around 10am.
VIC SES has received over 700 calls for help in the past 24 hours at 6.20am this morning and requests for help are only expected to increase.
Vic SES said, “Please be mindful of longer than usual wait times if requesting SES emergency assistance on 132-500. If your emergency is life-threatening, phone 000. Thank you for your patience.”
Some 50,000 homes are without power as AusNet works to repair the network damaged by the storm.
Hundreds of homes are without power in Seville, Wandin East, Silvan, Mount Evelyn, Sherbrooke, Macclesfield, Wandin North and East, Healesville, Chum Creek, Monbulk, Olinda, Emerald, Cockatoo, Kalorama, Sassafras and Mount Dandenong.
While more than a thousand properties in Gembrook and The Basin are off the grid.
There are also trees down across the region, including in Seville, Woori Yallock, Macclesfield, Healesville, Cockatoo, Emerald, Mount Dandenong, Sassafras, Gembrook, Mooroolbark, Montrose and Croydon.
Road accidents have also been reported in Yellingbo and Mount Evelyn.
Drivers are urged to be aware of road hazards and pull over safely away from trees, drains and floodwater if driving conditions are dangerous.
Commuters have also been told to expect delays on the train lines due to fallen trees, with the Belgrave/Lilydale lines affected between Ringwood and Box Hill.
The VIC Emergency warning suggests Victorians should park away from trees, stay inside if outdoors appear dangerous, clean up when it’s safe to do so and contact family members and neighbours.
Another update to the warning is expected around 10 am this morning.
