A giant low-pressure system stretching from Darwin to southern Australia has dumped heavy rain across parts of Victoria and Tasmania.
Widespread rain has fallen in Victoria over the previous 24 hours to 9am on Thursday, with the highest falls coming from the northeast at Archerton (67.7mm) and Mount Buffalo Chalet (64mm).
It has sparked more than a dozen warnings for riverine flooding spanning from the outskirts of Melbourne's north to the NSW border.
More showers are on the way for Victoria on Thursday as the front gradually moves through the Bass Strait.
"Another 20 to 30mm is expected through southwest Victoria and also about the northeast ranges," Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Tom Delamotte said.
"We could even see some isolated totals pushing back up towards 45mm through the northeast ranges. So definitely still a bit of rainfall to come."
Tasmania's north is also copping a drenching, with 61mm recorded at Gray and 43mm at St Helens to 11am on Thursday.
Meteorologist Deb Tabor expects those totals to increase further before falls start to ease on Thursday afternoon.
Winds up to 90-100km/h are battering parts of the state, leaving about 1200 customers without power as at 2pm.
The Bureau of Meteorology has updated its severe weather warning to flag more damaging winds through Thursday and Friday.
Mount Hotham recorded a 128km/h gust just after 6am on Thursday before a 102km/h blast hit nearby Falls Creek nearly half an hour later.
The blustery conditions are expected to continue in alpine areas, with winds up to 110km/h, before also picking up in the state's southwest.
Australian Associated Press
