Authorities have warned of more wild weather in Victoria after ferocious storms, hail and wind damaged buildings and crops in regional Victoria.
A severe weather warning remains in place for much of the state and the Bureau of Meteorology is reporting that elevated and coastal areas are most likely to experience peak wind gusts.
The State Emergency Service (SES) responded to more than 1,000 calls for assistance across the weekend and Monday, more than 700 of which were for downed trees.
It also received more than 100 calls for building damage and 66 flood-related call-outs.
In the Wimmera town of Kaniva, near the South Australian border, publican Bob Cane witnessed the destruction first-hand.
"It's something I've never seen in these parts of town especially in this part of Victoria," he said.
"I've been through quite a few of these living in north Queensland and this reminded me of exactly what it was like.
"And we're inland, nowhere near the coast!"
The Mallee region was hit by raging storms at the same time, causing millions of dollars worth of damage to crops.
Mr Cane said one man lost a couple of sheets off the roof of his house that were found a few blocks away, while other houses and businesses were damaged because the water could not drain away.
Just as swiftly as the storm arrived it dissipated, leaving behind felled trees and damaged crops under blue skies.
"All of a sudden the skies opened up and you couldn't tell — it was a beautiful, sunny afternoon," Mr Cane said.
"The aftermath is incredible around town."
Not over yet
The SES said Victorians should remain vigilant because the threat to properties was far from over.
"Gusty winds can turn ordinary items from your backyard into airborne hazards," the spokesperson said.
"A severe weather warning for damaging winds remains current for much of the state, however there is a potential for strong wind gusts everywhere."
Nearly 100 requests for assistance came from the Grampians region.
"I don't think Kaniva has been hit that bad so quickly before," SES duty officer Michael Boerner said.
He also warned that more trees could fall in coming days because the saturated ground did little to support their roots.
Shane O'Shea, a journalist with the Buloke Times based in Donald, said "all hell broke loose" at about 3pm.
He said he had never experienced anything like it in his life.
"The wind and the rain and the hail were coming virtually sideways," O'Shea said.
He said the Times building's gutters could not handle the stormwater and flooded a computer room.
O'Shea said some hotels had water entering their lounges.
Race disrupted
In Maryborough, the Energy Breakthrough's 24-hour combined secondary and human-powered vehicle races were paused for more than five hours on Saturday amid heavy rain and lightning.
Some parents criticised the decision to stop the primary school races but continue with others.
A primary school triathlon-style event was stopped early on the advice of the Incident Control Centre in Bendigo.
Event organisers also said Victoria Police instructed them to relocate all camping gear located under trees.
An Energy Breakthrough spokesperson said "participants were informed immediately that the race would be called off".
"As a community event with hundreds of students on site, our priority was and always will be their safety above all else," the spokesperson said.
