Vic homes, businesses flooded in wild rain

Businesses were evacuated, major roads thrown into chaos and houses flooded after heavy rain hit Melbourne.

The SES received 135 calls for help in one hour after flash flooding hit Melbourne after 3pm (AEST) on Tuesday.

In Camberwell, a Target store was evacuated as a section of the roof collapsed in the rain, Fairfax Radio reports.

Brunswick's Barkly Square Shopping Centre was evacuated after flooding and part of the roof collapsed and several shops in Sydney Road were also flooded, a SES spokeswoman said.

She said most of the calls were for flooding in homes in the inner north and east which were hit by flash flooding.

The SES also had to rescue several drivers in cars which became trapped in flood waters.

Barkly Square Shopping Centre management said no one was injured after minor roof damage and flooding. It evacuated the centre to ensure the safety of customers and staff, it said in a statement.

Police said there were several traffic lights out in Hawthorn, Camberwell and Glen Waverley on Tuesday afternoon.

The heavy rain also affected public transport across Melbourne with Metro Trains saying the Broadmeadows station subway was flooded.

An exit ramp became submerged in waist-deep water leaving train passengers in Eltham stuck on a platform.

Yarra Trams told commuters in Clifton Hill and Northcote to consider other transport for the trip home.

A hailstorm also hit Melbourne's south-east in suburbs including Ringwood, Ferntree Gully and Knoxfield with locals tweeting photos of roads and footpaths covered in hail.

The wild weather follows a night of wild winds across Victoria which saw trees crashing into homes, powerlines and roads.

A large tree crushed the rear of a Healesville home about 2.30am, causing significant damage.

The SES fielded more than 220 calls from 7pm on Monday to 6am on Tuesday as the wind, which peaked at 110km/h, roared through.