That's it for Melbourne Express today. Check you again tomorrow.
Here are some great pictures from around the world to get you through the morning.
It is 14.5 degrees in the city. Expect a top of 17 degrees.
The headlines: A Melbourne doctor fears two people have died after an unprecedented number of people fell acutely sick last night, in what is believed to be a mass incident of "thunderstorm asthma"; parts of Japan have been evacuated after at 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit the Fukushima coast, a tsunami is expected; and controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank says he intends to front the AFL appeals board and believes he can still clear the 34 banned Essendon players.
Water swirls in the port of Onahama at the city of Iwaki as a tide draws the sea out ahead of a tsunami. Photo: NHK World
Ashley Graham, of Brunswick, has suffered hay fever but never had an asthma attack, yet she ended up in the Royal Melbourne Hospital when the cool change hit yesterday.
"I was terrified when the cool change came and my lungs started to shut down," she said.
"Lucky my partner suffers asthma and could see symptoms and get me to a hospital."
She had never heard of thunderstorm asthma before, but seeing the emergency waiting room at the Royal Melbourne Hospital was "overwhelmingly".
"The nurses joked as they created a tower out of empty Ventolin and spacer boxes, while the emergency department halls were lined with people huffing and puffing on (sometimes shared) specialised puffers," Ashley said.
The nurses seemed "astonished" at the influx and asked anyone who was not seriously ill to consider going to a GP to ease the burden on the staff.
"All-in-all it was handled very well seeing as most patients were very confused and scared," she said.
"Some people were being very dramatic, coming in and yelling: 'Help, I can't breathe'. The whole room was sitting their with a puffer."
Nurses told patients to take 12 puffs, then take a 20 minute break before having another 12 puff.
Ashley is off to her GP today and is off work today.
The slow crawl to work is also affecting the Monash Freeway - 78 minutes from Clyde Road to Kings Way.
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Coming up today, Dogs Victoria, the peak body representing owners and breeders of purebred dogs in Victoria, will call on State Parliament to amend legislation designed to stamp out puppy farms.
The group applauds the legislation but say the Domestic Animals Amendment (Puppy Farm and Pet Shops) Bill 2016 will have serious unintended consequences if it passes.
"The legislation is more suited to control and regulate large commercial operations, not small scale hobby breeders, who breed occasionally, and in a home environment to ensure the public can get the best, most well socialised, puppy possible," a statement from the group says.
On the steps of parliament today, expect to see a German wire-haired pointer and German hunting terrier who are qualified and employed conservation detector dogs, three Labradors trained in search and rescue, a Springer spaniel qualified pest detector used to eradicate pests from World Heritage listed Macquarie Island, a Labrador puppy in training for police work, and a kelpie trained in farm work.
Macquarie Island rabbit hunting dogs. Photo: Jim Milne
The ABC in Japan is tweeting that Japanese authorities are warning residents to get to higher ground. The Bureau of Meteorology in Australia says there is no affect on Australia.
NHK: Remember 3.11 Disaster. Evacuate now! 3m tsunami in Fukushima could come any time now pic.twitter.com/ou1Rog9K90
— Yumi Asada (@yumi_asada) November 21, 2016
As if it wasn't blowy enough yesterday.
Parliament returns today. Fire up the leaf blower. pic.twitter.com/pqFOgXmte6
— Brendan Donohoe (@BrendanDonohoe7) November 21, 2016
The Police Association is furious after a senior member was stabbed between the eyes during a terrifying home invasion, reports 3AW.
The report comes after it was revealed the alleged attacker was a 19-year-old man who had been bailed twice within a fortnight.
Senior Constable Daniel Yeoman was stabbed multiple times during the home invasion just before 2am on Saturday.
Police Association secretary Ron Iddles called for the courts to toughen up.
Japan has been hit by an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3, near Fukushima.
JUST IN: 7.3-magnitude earthquake strikes near the coast of Honshu, Japan, USGS says. pic.twitter.com/oAmgz4KLqr
— ABC News (@ABC) November 21, 2016
Craigieburn, Sunbury and Upfield lines have delays of up to 10 minute due to a signal fault at North Melbourne.
The 7.53am Dandenong to Flinders Street will originate from Oakleigh at 8.13am today.
A new exit at Altona station is causing soggy feet every time it rains and at least one train is leaking this morning.
@metrotrains carriage 748m has a leaky roof. Water coming in and onto the seat. pic.twitter.com/blWSc5lQAG
— Graeme (@smoggy28) November 21, 2016
@HobsonsBayCC @metrotrains Altona Station new exit ...... straight into the billabong every time it rains!! pic.twitter.com/GVQqeFNyZu
— Cazzablanca (@caz_sez) November 21, 2016
Imagine the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff, powered by Bizet's opera Carmen, and you get El Kid, now showing at the Arts Centre Melbourne.
This opera for the young and young at heart, tells the story of Diego, left behind by the party animals when they head to Seville for the fiesta.
This show is designed to introduce a young audience to the wonder, passion and drama of opera - and weighing in at just 60 minutes, it is in much easier than The Ring Cycle which runs over four nights. Tickets $28-$36.
El Kid will also run on Saturday at 11am, 2pm and 5pm and Sunday 11am and 2pm.
El Kid comes to Melbourne
The Three Billy Goats Gruff meets Carmen in Portugal for a fiesta in El Kid, playing at the Arts Centre Melbourne on November 22, 26 and 27.
There is a collision on the Nepean Highway, near South Road, Bentleigh, which has closed the right-hand lane.
Emergency services are there and VicRoads advises motorists to allow extra time.
Back to topMore on that police presence on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines. It appears there was a drunk man causing a disturbance at Springvale railway station. Police were called and arrested him. The trains are back up and running.
Not only were people waiting for ambulances last night but there was a run on puffers.
Spent an hour driving last night because pharmacies had run out of ventolin. Glad I didn't go to ED so people who needed it most got in https://t.co/6ZZ8LHTaj8
— Luigi Zolio (@_thezol) November 21, 2016
Heavy delays coming in from the north and west. It is taking 47 minutes to get from Forsyth Road to Montague Street on the Princes Freeway and West Gate.
Travel times for CityLink Tulla Widening works at 7:50am #victraffic #CTWidening @CityLinkMelb pic.twitter.com/11nB5GWRtC
— VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) November 21, 2016
The wait is over for the over-sized sushi roll that actually fills you up, Josie Jo sushi burrito bar opens today at shop 10, 318 Little Collins Street, Melbourne. They are already huge in the United States, Sofia Levin writes for Good Food.
Sushi burrito from Josie Jo in Melbourne. Photo: Vito Mirr
Caller Jeanette to 3AW says she believes she had her first ever asthma attack last night.
Caller Jeanette has never had asthma attack before but thinks she had one last night. Waited 3.5 hrs for ambulance because they were so busy
— 3AW Breakfast (@RossAndJohn) November 21, 2016
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