Wild Melbourne weather brings down trees onto buildings

STRONG marine and wind warnings have been issued after storms swept through Melbourne last night, with some trees falling on houses and buildings.

A cold front batters Melbourne. People crossing the Yarra at Southbank battle against the wind and rain. Picture: Jason Edwards

STRONG marine and wind warnings have been issued after storms swept through Melbourne last night, with some trees falling on houses and buildings.

Despite the warm weather, with temperatures hitting 18C at 6.30am, the rain is set to continue in Melbourne today with the chance of another thunderstorm this morning in the east.

The warning was issued for Port Phillip, Western Port, Gippsland Lakes, West Coast, Central Coast, Central Gippsland Coast and East Gippsland Coast.

SES, last night, received 10 requests for help and spokeswoman Kathryn Gould expected more jobs when people wake up this morning.

The storm damage occurred throughout the greater Melbourne area with Knox the hardest hit.

Ms Gould said emergency services were attending to a number of fallen trees.

“There were 10 requests for assistance last night in the Greater Melbourne area with a number of trees down including building damage,” Ms Gould said.

“It is possible those requests will get a little bit higher today as people wake up.

“The jobs were fairly spread out, including a couple in Knox.”

Emergency services attended two jobs in northwest Victoria, where a severe thunderstorm warning was last night issued by the Bureau of Meteorology. The affected areas included Mildura, Ouyen, Swan Hill, Kerang, Murrayville and Rainbow.