Hail on Victorian coast as rain continues to fall

Melbourne has recorded its wettest and coldest day for 2019 so far.

Temperatures climbed to a modest maximum of 14C today with up to 15mm of rain falling across the city, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

In some eastern suburbs, 15mm of rain fell in as many minutes.

"It's arguably the wettest day of the year so far," senior forecaster Richard Carlyon said.

The Melbourne city gauge recorded 7mm before 9am and a further 8mm through until early afternoon, with more showers expected.

Between 10mm to 15mm rain fell in just 15 minutes in some eastern suburbs as heavy showers and thunderstorms passed over about lunchtime, Mr Carlyon said.

Previously, the most daily rain Melbourne had recorded was 11mm on February 7.

Up to 20mm is expected to fall across most of the metropolitan area by the end of the day, with heavier falls in the western and northwestern suburbs.

"If we exceed 11mm, which is definitely a pretty decent risk, it is going to be the wettest day of 2019 so far," forecaster Keris Arndt said.

Areas west of Melbourne recorded the highest rainfall, with 56mm up to 9am at Aireys Inlet and 44mm at Ballarat.

The SES warned drivers to slow down, maintain a greater distance from the vehicle in front and turn on headlights.

Drivers are also urged to avoid driving through flooded roads.

Heavy rain is expected to reduce visibility, making road conditions dangerous across the inner, western, northern, eastern and southeastern suburbs.

While the Bureau of Meteorology says it's not an unusual amount of rain for this time of year, senior forecaster Richard Carlyon warns autumn leaves blocking drains could lead to localised flash flooding.

The wet, chilly weather is also forecast to bring snow in alpine areas, in altitudes as low as 1000m, with around 5 to 10cm possible.

The highest falls were recorded in the west of the state with Ben Nevis – near Ararat – received 59 millimetres by 9am and while the Surf Coast town of Aireys Inlet received 56mm.

The cities of Ballarat and Geelong had received 44mm and 33mm respectively, senior forecaster for the Bureau of Meteorology Richard Carlyon said.

Some Melbourne suburbs saw 10 and 15 millimetres of rain within 15 minutes early this afternoon, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

It’s tipped to be Melbourne wettest day of the year.

He said Melbourne's western suburbs had received between 10 and 20mm, but Melbourne was unlikely to see the same intensity of rainfall as areas in the west.

"We're likely to see the showers increase during the middle part of the day and through the afternoon," he said.

Hail covered the streets and beaches at Cape Paterson on Victoria’s Bass Coast south-east of Melbourne.

Thunderstorms this afternoon could see 30 to 60mm of rain fall over Melbourne, Bendigo, Ballarat, Seymour, Wonthaggi and Bacchus Marsh in an hour.

Residents of Ballan, in the state's north-west, were forced to sandbag their properties as relentless rainfall hit the region overnight and throughout the day.

"We're just battling with all the water that's coming down from the street, it's flooding our house," Ballan resident Helen Wiseman said.

Homes around Ballarat's Lake Wendouree also saw high levels of rain, with swans relocating from lakes to roads.

VicRoads has urged motorists to take care in the slippery conditions and issued a reminder for people never to enter floodwaters.

Snow is forecast down to 1000 metres and a strong wind warning has been issued for coastal areas west of Lakes Entrance.

A strong wind warning is also in place for Western Ports and Port Phillip Bay as well as parts of the Central and East Gippsland coasts.