Thousands without power in Victoria as dangerous thunderstorms lash state

Thousands of Victorians are without power and a home has been struck by lightning as dangerous thunderstorms lash parts of the state.

Heavy rain has also continued in Queensland with parts of Townsville recording more than 300mm in 24 hours.

By 9.30am most of the storm had passed over central Melbourne, leaving flooded roads, traffic lights down, slippery train platforms and power outages.

The thunderstorms were moving south-east and were predicted to hit Flinders, Hastings and Mornington, followed by Phillip Island, French Island and south of Cranbourne.

A Bundoora home was struck by lightning and set on fire just after 8am.

Three people were evacuated from the property, on Betula Avenue, and were treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital. The fire was contained with about 40% of the home damaged in the blaze.

Meanwhile, more than 7,000 people were without power as of 9.45am.

Powercor spokesman Jordan Oliver said lightning striking power poles had impacted its electricity network.

However, this was later cancelled, with residents asked to watch out for floodwaters, damaged buildings and fallen trees.

Signal faults caused by the storm delayed some trains and the M80 Ring Road flooded, with a left lane closed.

Drivers were asked to leave extra space between them and the car in front, to use headlights and pull over if the rain became too heavy.

Malmsbury Headwall recorded 56.2mm of rain in the 60 minutes to 5:15am, while Trentham Reservoir recorded 38.6mm in one hour to 6am.

In Queensland, the BoM has issued minor and moderate flood warnings at several locations amid ongoing heavy rainfall.

Parts of northern Queensland received hundreds of millimetres of rainfall in downfalls brought on by a monsoonal trough.

The highest totals were recorded in Townsville, where 381mm fell at Stony Creek and 322mm at Saunders Creek in the 24 hours to 9am on Thursday.

Several other locations recorded falls greater than 200mm.