A deluge of rain is pelting Victoria as as a low pressure trough moves across the state, triggering flash flooding in metropolitan areas.
A major flood warning has been issued for Elsternwick Canal and Elster Creek in Elwood, with the Elsternwick Gauge at 2.8 metres , Vic Emergency advised.
Residents in Elwood, Gardenvale, Brighton, Brighton East, Elsternwick, Ripponlea and St Kilda are advised to undertake protective measures as water levels continue to rise.
VicRoads has warned motorists to take care while travelling on flooded major roads, including the West Gate Freeway outbound at Kings Way entry ramp, Queens Road between Kings Way and Dandenong Road, Dudley Street rail overpass and Mickleham Road at Ponds Creek.
The Western Ring Road at Plenty Road in Bundoora has been closed in both directions as a result of the flooding and is expected to cause heavy delays.
"Altona-bound motorists are advised to detour via the Greensborough Bypass and Greensborough-bound motorists to detour via Sydney Road," VicRoads said in a statement.
Train services have also been affected by the rain, with Hurstbridge, Belgrave, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sandringham lines all partially suspended because of flooding on tracks, Public Transport Victoria (PTV) advised.
Buses will replace trains in affected areas and it is not yet known when normal services will resume, PTV said.
Melbourne's city centre had about 12mm rain fall in a very short time starting just before 3pm, and there was more in some suburbs, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
By 4.10 pm Melbourne Airport had received more than 40mm of rain.
Flights were delayed when ground crews were called back inside just before 3pm as lighting passed overhead, an airport spokesman said.
Delays could continue until conditions improve, the spokesman said.
A severe weather warning has been issued by the Bureau of Meterology (BoM) for most of Victoria with heavy rain and potential thunderstorms expected to continue into the afternoon for Central, Mallee, Northern Country, North Central, North East, Wimmera districts and parts of the East Gippsland, South West and West and South Gippsland.
Many people have taken to social media to capture the downpour across the state.
"Summer in Melbourne," Twitter user Yoram Pohl captioned a video of the deluge in Melbourne's CBD.
Another Twitter user, Maskit, captured video of a flooded outlet on Centre Road, in Bentleigh East.
A leak in the roof allowed rain to trickle into the retail section of Melbourne Airport, prompting staff to cordon off the area from the public.
The heavy rain has also caused play at the MCG in the Boxing Day Test to be suspended again.
With AAP