Residents of Geelong and Melbourne’s outer western suburbs are being warned to remain indoors as authorities issue an emergency warning for giant hailstones and destructive winds for the area.

The Bureau of Meteorology said very dangerous thunderstorms had been detected on the weather radar south of Melton after 5pm and that very dangerous thunderstorms were forecast to hit St Albans, Sunbury and Werribee by about 5.45 pm.

The bureau warned the wild weather was expected pummel Footscray, Laverton and Williamstown just before 6pm.

Authorities said the storm was life-threatening and that residents should move indoors as soon as possible.

Bureau of Meteorology Senior Meteorologist Chris Arvier said the storm was likely produce giant hail stones of more than five centimetres in diameter and potentially destructive wind gusts.

He said the heavy rainfall associated with the front could also lead to flash flooding.

“These are potentially life-threatening storms, and you wouldn’t want to be caught out in this hail at all,” he said.

The bureau also said other severe thunderstorms were detected on the radar north of Whittlesea, south of Warburton, Yarra Junction and the area north of Ballarat. They are expected to cause damage in the area east of Whittlesea by 5.45 pm and St Andrews, Yarra Glen and the area south of Kinglake by 6.15 pm.

The town of Shelford, near Geelong, recorded 35 millimetres of rain fall in the 45 minutes to 4.15pm.

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