Thunderstorm kills power to 20,000 Victorian customers

Tens of thousands of Victorian households and businesses have lost power as a thunderstorm sweeps across the state.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued on Tuesday afternoon for Bendigo, Maryborough, Castlemaine, Kyneton, Ballarat, Bellarine Peninsula and greater Melbourne.

Damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall are likely, the Bureau of Meteorology alert said.

The thunderstorm is moving southeast and may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours.

Some 20,000 power customers across central and western Victoria are already off the grid after the storm brought down trees and damaged the network.

Powercor, which supplies power to 1.2 million Victorian homes and businesses, said electricity infrastructure has also been impacted by lightning.

“Ballarat and surrounding communities are the hardest hit areas, with around 13,000 customers without power,” a Powercor spokesman said in a statement.

“Other areas impacted include Hamilton, Ararat, Horsham, Maryborough and Geelong.

“Our crews will continue to work to have power restored throughout the afternoon and evening.”