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Town evacuated, cars trapped as Vic rain wreaks havoc

A town has been evacuated and several cars trapped in rising waters as severe weather warnings remain in place with heavy rainfall across Victoria.

Low lying areas around Myrtleford in Victoria's alpine region were ordered to evacuate on Friday night with floodwaters continuing to rise.

A warning to residents told people to leave by 1.30am on Saturday or their property may be isolated or inundated and it may be too late to leave.

Heavy rain will continue over the weekend. Source: AAP
Heavy rain will continue over the weekend. Source: AAP
Melbourne residents have felt the full force of the storms. Source: 7 News
Melbourne residents have felt the full force of the storms. Source: 7 News

Overnight, Victoria SES received more than 1300 phone calls for help across the state and severe weather warning remains in place.

Victoria's north-east and alpine regions have copped the heaviest rainfalls so far, including 200mm at Strathbogie and 170mm at Euroa.

The rainfall had eased in most areas on Saturday morning but the Bureau of Meteorology warns it is likely to pick up again in the evening.

An elderly couple became trapped in their car in floodwaters near Seymour on Friday night, rescued by a farmer in a tractor who plucked them to safety.

In another incident, a passerby filmed a car stranded in floodwater, with half of the vehicle submerged by the side of the road entering Euroa.

There are major flood warnings in place for the Ovens, King, Buckland and Buffalo rivers and a moderate warnings for the Murray River upstream of Lake Hume, Kiewa River and the Seven and Castle creeks.

Authorities issued a statewide warning for people to keep off the roads and monitor emergency broadcasts with the worst of the massive rain storms still to come.

Diners at one restaurant were left swamped in the rainwater. Source: 7 News
Diners at one restaurant were left swamped in the rainwater. Source: 7 News
Cyclists were not to be deterred and braved the treacherous conditions. Source: 7 News
Cyclists were not to be deterred and braved the treacherous conditions. Source: 7 News

Emergency Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley at a briefing on Friday reminded people to remain vigilant overnight and into Saturday.

"We're not out of it. It hasn't necessarily been across the state yet but it's coming and the bureau has been very clear in their forecast," Mr Lapsley said.

"The forecasted rain for Saturday is in the hundreds of millimetres. It could go as far as 250mm in the northeast."

One driver was left stranded near Euroa as floodwaters continued to rise. Source: Supplied
One driver was left stranded near Euroa as floodwaters continued to rise. Source: Supplied


Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said people needed to use common sense and look out for each other to "get through this very difficult period."

He warned Victorians not to become complacent and to check on neighbours and loved ones.

In the 24 hours up to 5pm on Friday, the state's highest rainfall of 73mm was recorded at Arcadia, near Shepparton.

Sandbags were deployed right across the state, including this stack in Melbourne's CBD. Source: 7 News
Sandbags were deployed right across the state, including this stack in Melbourne's CBD. Source: 7 News

The Bureau of Meteorology maintains a forecast for up to 250mm of rain at some centres on Saturday, meaning the December average would be swamped in the first two days of the month.

The premier has been on the phone to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who has offered the state federal assistance should it be needed.

The SES received 1000 calls for help on Friday across the state and expected to be inundated overnight.

They have also issued text message warnings to more than 7.4 million residents warning them to stay safe and be prepared for further flooding on Saturday.

The rain has so far led to the cancellation of a number of major events, including the Great Victorian Bike Ride and Taste of Melbourne.

The SES sent out text messages to warn residents of the dangers of the storm. Source: Supplied
The SES sent out text messages to warn residents of the dangers of the storm. Source: Supplied
Hundreds of homes were left damaged overnight. Source: 7 News
Hundreds of homes were left damaged overnight. Source: 7 News