Melbourne’s severe thunderstorms spark mass train delays across network

Public transport users are facing nightmare commutes after wild storms lashed the city, prompting mass delays across the rail network.

Melbourne is in for a gloomy and wet day, with severe thunderstorms rocking the city this morning and sending public transport into chaos.

The CBD was hit with thunder and lightning about 8.15am this morning, drenching Melburnians on their commute to work.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 8.30am for metropolitan Melbourne and for regional Victoria, including central parts of the state and parts of the southwest and northern country districts.

Commuters on the Geelong line have experienced delays of up to an hour, after lightning damaged tracks at Tarneit and Waurn Ponds.

A V/Line statement on twitter urged commuters on the line to allow for up to 60 minutes.

At 1.19pm commuters were told that the track was cleared however due to a build up of delayed trains, more delays may be in store.

However at 1.24pm commuters were informed there would be further delays due to a separate incident at Footscray station.

Umbrellas were out in full force in the CBD this morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Meanwhile, a desperate rescue mission was underway to find a dog after it was reportedly sucked into a drain in Melbourne’s west following the city being lashed with torrential rain.

Police and firefighters descended on wetlands in Point Cook in a bid to pull three-year-old Nellie out from the drain filled with water on Thursday morning.

Local news outlet Wyndham TV reported that Nellie’s owners were losing hope of finding their dog alive after it stopped making noise at about 11.30am.

Nellie became stuck inside the drain surrounded by murky water in the wetlands near Bilbao Way.

It is surrounded by large rocks and shrubbery with the brown colour of the water making it difficult for emergency services and several onlookers to peer inside.

It is unclear whether Nellie’s owners were with the dog when it disappeared.

A police car and fire truck could be seen parked nearby.

Dozens of Point Cook residents have sent well wishes to Nellie in hopes the dog will be found alive on social media.

“I’m praying while sobbing this dog is rescued and returned to his family that need (sic) him,” Lilianne Addamo said.

“Fingers crossed she’s ok,” Lisa Gwin wrote on Facebook.

Emergency services search Point Cook wetlands for missing dog Nellie. Pictures: Wyndham TV

The severe thunderstorms, which were detected south of Melton and west and northwest of Werribee earlier this morning moved through the city during peak hour and into east.

Suburbs expected to be hit by the wild weather include Caulfield, Craigieburn, Dandenong, Glen Waverley, Melbourne City, Preston and Ringwood.

Heavy showers will then move through Pakenham, Scoresby and Whittlesea.

The heavy rainfalls resulted in flash flooding in South Melbourne, with some roads temporarily closed.

Metro Trains reported delays of up to 30 minutes on the Werribee, Williamstown and Alamein lines due to weather-related issues.

Sky News meteorologist Alison Osborne said severe storm activity was still a risk this afternoon.

“Heavy rain, damaging winds are the main threat,” she said, adding that cloudy, overcast skies will persist all day.

Melburnians on the morning work commute have been hit by severe thunderstorms. Picture: BOM

Ms Osborne said this mornings storms were “further west and closer to the coast then originally forecast, hence just in time for morning commuters!”

Despite the storms and cloud, she said temperatures are “close to average today across Melbourne – a mild 24C max.”

For Victorians in the high country and northeast, who can expect the heaviest falls today, the risk of storms reduces “significantly in the afternoon”, she said.

As for central and eastern regions, the meteorologist said the areas will see “a lingering severe storm threat throughout much of today.”