Organisers of the 3BA FM Skyworks Spectacular have vowed the show will go on in a partnership with the City of Ballarat at Lake Wendouree on February 11 at 9.30pm.

The development came as early indications revealed many of the fireworks, including some which were imported specifically for the event, appeared unsalvageable.

Wild weather forced the cancellation of the Wednesday night celebrations at the eleventh hour.

Storms dumped 17.2mm of rain on the city, forcing thousands of people to run for cover about 9pm.

The weather continued to wreak havoc on the region last night with black-outs reported at Beaufort and Mt Helen.

No significant rain fell in Ballarat at the time of going to press late last night but Beaufort received a hefty 63mm in three hours.

Lightning strikes caused power outages to 240 Mt Helen customers just before 3pm yesterday and left a further 1800 Beaufort customers without power at 8pm.

Services were restored to most customers by 6.30pm at Mt Helen and 9.35pm at Beaufort, a Powercor spokesman said.

3BA general manager David Hoeycomok said Wednesday night's deluge was disappointing.

Mr Hoey said pyro-technicians were yesterday undertaking the painstaking task of evaluating and salvaging the remains of the show that had been 10 months in the planning.

"It's devastating," he said.

"We commit an enormous amount of resources and money, around $50,000 every year, to promote the Australia Day activities and create the Skyworks Spectacular but unfortunately we are at the mercy of the elements."

Mr Hoey said 3BA FM was responsible for the entire cost of the fireworks and yesterday was reassessing whether to re-schedule the show.

But he said the show would go on as a joint effort between 3BA FM and the City of Ballarat.

The Australia Day storms brought motorists to a standstill in Gillies St while the corner of Howitt and Dowling streets was also flooded.

Three Ballarat SES crews attended leaking roofs across the city while another Ballarat crew was dispatched to Barwon Heads, after Geelong was battered with 96mm in three hours.

Midwest Region SES Ballarat unit controller Grant Bradshaw said Ballarat crews attended about 12 call-outs.

Mr Bradshaw urged residents to undertake regular maintenance on their homes, clearing blocked spouting and gutters, or to ensure their pipes could cope with a deluge.

The Bureau of Meteorology was last night forecasting scattered showers and thunderstorms to continue todaycomfridayok ahead of a fine weekend.