Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Matt Michael said around 13 millimetres of rain, that has yet to be quality tested, fell in the Ballarat area overnight.

Another 5-10 millimetres is predicted to fall during Thursday and Friday.

Up until yesterday the total September rainfall for Ballarat was 156.4 mm. 

“The total for Ballarat up to yesterday was 156.4mm  – it does look like the 162.9mm highest on record from 1916. If today’s figure is correct we will exceed that,” Mr Michael said.

“There is still another small amount of rain to fall – there is predicted shower activity for much of the rest of today and throughout Friday there could be up to another 10 mm falling by the end of the month.”

Mr Michael said the high rainfall and severe weather was caused by the rainband associated with the intense low pressure system causing power issues in South Australia.

“That is just coming onto land now it will make it way across,” he said.

Between 10 and 25 millimetres of rain is likely across most of Victoria, but some areas could receive as much as 50 millimetres.

A severe weather warning is in place for Central, Mallee, South West, Northern Country, North Central, North East and Wimmera forecast districts.

The worst-affected towns include Mildura, Horsham, Warrnambool, Bendigo, Shepparton, Seymour, Maryborough, Ballarat, Geelong, Wodonga and Wangaratta. 

The SES attended 14 call-outs in the Ballarat region over night for fallen trees. They received a total of 50 call-outs for the mid-west region, with Ballarat the most severely affected. 

Victoria's emergency services are watching the weather and are ready to respond, an SES spokesman told Fairfax Media.

"One of the key things facing Victoria over the next couple of days is the weather scenario," Victorian emergency management commissioner Craig Lapsley said.

"Tie down those things that will be blowing around and could become missiles. Make sure you don't go near water that's flooding ... it's unsafe to drive in water, play in water."