Car crushed, trains cancelled as wild weather hits Melbourne

SEVERE storms have blitzed Melbourne, Ballarat and surrounds, taking down trees and causing delays ahead of peak hour.

WILD winds have wreaked havoc across Melbourne with trees falling onto homes, cars and across powerlines.

Strong, destructive winds up to 100km/h have hit the city after sweeping across from Horsham and Geelong.

SES Victoria said crews received 127 calls for help in the past hour; almost 90 were related to fallen trees and 37 were for building damage.

Paramedics are also responding to reports a child has been injured by a falling tree.

MORE FROM THE HERALD SUN: RISTEVSKI’S SON WON’T GIVE EVIDENCE

BEST AND WORST FOOTY COMMENTARY OF ROUND 17

A spokeswoman for Ambulance Victoria confirmed crews were on route to an address in Marysville following reports a tree fell on a primary school aged boy about 4.40pm.

The child’s condition is not yet known.

In Melbourne’s north east, a 4m tree fell onto two cars parked outside Greensborough Primary School at 3pm.

The tree came to rest on powerlines and is partially blocking the road.

No one was injured.

And there are reports of a trampoline caught in live power lines in Rye.

Tourists shield their faces at Brighton Beach as the wild winds hit this afternoon. Picture: Getty

The wild winds hit kite surfers on Port Phillip Bay. Picture: Getty

The Herald Sun has also been told a large tree collapsed onto two homes in the Manningham area about the same time.

Ballarat has been among the hardest hit towns, according to the SES.

“Horsham also had a big blast that came through pretty fast,” he said at 3.30pm.

“It moved through to Geelong and is starting to hit Melbourne.”

The storm passes over Melbourne. Picture: Getty

The view from Brighton Beach. Picture: Getty

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of Victoria as the cold front crosses the state this afternoon.

The worst of the storms had been forecast to hit Geelong, Queenscliff and Torquay at 3pm, with Melton, Rosebud, St Albans, Sunbury and Werribee in the firing line at 3.45pm.

By 4.20pm, the storms were expected to move through Caulfield, Cranbourne and KooWeeRup.

A tree fell on the Glen Waverley line shortly after 3pm with buses replacing trains from Burnley to Darling, but services had resumed by 4.30pm.

This is coming your way Melbourne! #MelbWeather #Geelong. Rain, hail and winds so strong the building is shaking. pic.twitter.com/QXYlhXluC4

— Perrin Brown (@PerrinPezzaBrwn) July 17, 2018

And an equipment fault on the Pakenham line also sparked delays for commuters earlier this afternoon, the second delay today after a tree came down on tracks between Dandenong and Hallam.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest warning.

Earlier, a car was crushed by a 10m tree in Ventnor at Phillip Island, the SES said.

“Thankfully no one was in the car but it has been crushed and St Andrews Drive has been blocked off,” an SES spokeswoman said.

The Bureau of Meteorology says the strongest winds for Melbourne will be between 2pm and 4pm.

A severe weather warning for damaging winds with peak gusts of between 90km/h to 100km/h has been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology.

Strongest winds in the #Melbourne area are expected between 2-4pm along with a band of showers and isolated thunderstorms as the cold front arrives. Currently 15-17°C across the metro area however apparent temperature is 2-5°C. https://t.co/zSBzqMU9IN pic.twitter.com/W827F7mowY

— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) July 17, 2018

A Road Weather Alert has been issued for #Melbourne: https://t.co/dRLjXc4FXG pic.twitter.com/GS3qCLXUvl

— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) July 17, 2018

Update Pakenham line: Buses will replace trains between Dandenong and Hallam due to a fallen tree on track. Replacement buses have been ordered and may take some time to arrive. Please check our website https://t.co/fE9E9Hyp10 for local alternative bus routes.

— Metro Trains (@metrotrains) July 17, 2018

“The winds are going to steadily increase from this morning and it will get pretty squally.”

It was “definitely possible” for some of the strongest gusts to hit the Melbourne metro area, the forecaster said.

“It’s likely to be the late afternoon when we may get showers, thunderstorms and even hail but the winds will be easing at that time,” Mr Delamotte said.

Commuters are advised to be aware of the conditions, particularly if driving.

The SES advised people to move their vehicles under cover or away from trees, secure any loose items outside including balconies and keep clear of any fallen power lines.

INSIDE LOOK AT HOW MELBOURNE’S WEATHER IS FORECAST

WHAT VICTORIANS CAN EXPECT THIS WINTER

WET WEEK AHEAD FOR MELBOURNE