STORM RAZES ROOF

Wild weather tore the back off a historic shop in Queenscliff yesterday as 100km/h winds and heavy downpours had the SES at 92 call-outs.

THE back of an iconic Queenscliff building collapsed yesterday, as wild weather whipped the region.

Part of the back of vintage store Eddie’s Emporium, on Hesse St, collapsed about 12.40pm yesterday.

There were gusts of up to 100km/h across the region, and investigations are under way to determine if the weather contributed to the significant damage at Eddie’s.

The roof of the adjoining extension also collapsed.

No one was injured in that or other weather-related incidents.

CFA crews and a building surveyor were at the scene for more than two hours as they worked to assess the damage.

Relief from the heavy rain and wild winds is on the way, with only a couple of millimetres of rain expected today. Tops of 17C and only light rain are expected today and tomorrow.

It comes after Geelong was drenched with rain in the early hours of yesterday morning while heavy rain was also recorded across Melbourne.

Geelong racecourse (19.8mm) and Avalon Airport (27.6mm) copped a downpour in the 24 hours to 9am yesterday after just 11.2mm fell across Geelong in the whole of April.

Umbrellas were turned inside out yesterday as wind gusts of 72km/h were e recorded in Geelong and Avalon, and up to 100km/h in the Otways.

SES operations officer Ken Smith said 92 call outs from the Geelong region were made to the service yesterday.“The majority were for traffic hazards such a trees onto roads but we also had a fair bit of building damage,” Mr Smith said.

“(We want to) make sure that when there’s a storm event like this coming people secure outdoor furniture, trampolines and other items.”

Almost 400 homes across the region were without power for five hours yesterday afternoon as Powercor investigated faults at four locations. About 110 customers in Torquay and Jan Juc; 73 around Belmont, Grovedale, Waurn Ponds and Wandana Heights; 141 around Herne Hill and Manifold Heights; and 65 near Bannockburn were effected, Powercor said. About 100 Highton residents were also left without power from 4pm yesterday evening.

CHAD VAN ESTROP