Melbourne homes without power after wild storm

Gusts of up to 100km/h have battered Melbourne homes for an hour and a half this afternoon, with more thunderstorms forecast for tonight.

The sudden spring storm has caused havoc across the city, bringing down trees in Frankston and damaging power poles in Seaford.

Electricity disruptions due to the storm have so far affected 20,000 homes in Melbourne.

The SES has been kept busy after receiving hundreds of phone calls for help following the devastating conditions.

The record-breaking winds caused dangerous conditions for fire fighters as a Laverton factory was engulfed by a blaze, which was eventually brought under control.

Conditions are expected to deteriorate, with more storms tonight, and colder temperatures are expected to persist for the next few days.