LAKE Bolac residents yesterday counted the cost of a twister that swept through the area on Thursday night leaving a damage bill of more than $2 million.
Silos were lifted off the ground, power lines were strewn across roads and more than 100 trees were uprooted in the wild weather that started about 11pm.
Country Fire Authority, Police and State Emergency Services personnel pitched in during the massive clean up.
SES regional manager Steve Warren said the Ararat SES had been working through Thursday night and yesterday.
"Surprisingly few residences were affected and the main damage was done to a collapsed tin factory, grain silos and a machinery shop," Mr Warren said.
"There were also a lot of trees that had to be removed from roads."
Eight large silos worth about $2 million were destroyed or damaged and Australian Barley Board grain was scattered across the area.
Lake Bolac Grain Storage co-owner Robert Fraser said he had been on holiday in Cowes when he heard of the damage.
"I drove back this morning and it's quite a blow to see what has happened," Mr Fraser said.
Other smaller silos were lifted off the ground and came to rest up to 3km away.
About 400 residents lost power for most of the day as power lines were removed during the storm.
Lake Bolac Caravan Park worker Tas Clingan said a thunderstorm had been followed by a few minutes of fierce wind.
"It was like in the movies," Mr Clingan said.
"It was dark, and then there was lightening, and after that the wind came through for a few minutes."
Damage in the caravan park was confined to trees that lost their limbs and one ute that had its windscreen smashed by a falling tree.
Ute owner Frank Quinlan said he was surprised no one was injured.
"I used to be a captain in the merchant navy and it was just like a cyclone out at sea," Mr Quinlan said.
Bureau of Meteorology severe weather meteorologist Monica Long said the high winds were part of a super cell thunderstorm that started to develop at 9.20pm.
She said more wild weather was expected across the state this weekend.