NewsBite

Wild weather lashes Melbourne’s suburbs

MELBOURNE’S southeast has been hard hit by ferocious winds today with the SES attending more than 100 call-outs.

CFA and police clear a tree that fell across Nepean Hwy Mt Eliza, blocking all northbound lanes. Picture: Jason Sammon
CFA and police clear a tree that fell across Nepean Hwy Mt Eliza, blocking all northbound lanes. Picture: Jason Sammon

WILD weather as lashed the south eastern suburbs today causing widespread damage across Frankston and the peninsula.

Reader Di Ewington-Taylor posted images of a tree crashed into a garden at Flinders during wild weather today.
Reader Di Ewington-Taylor posted images of a tree crashed into a garden at Flinders during wild weather today.

A limb on a large gum tree outside Frankston Police Station snapped in the 90km/h wind that is still battering Frankston.

Cold Melbourne weather continues as Antarctic chill sweeps across Victoria

Police members watched from their office as the branches twisted and bent in the ferocious winds, finally falling on three cars parked in the Fletcher Rd car park.

Frankston Detective Paul Busuttil said he and his colleagues watched it unfold.

“We heard a thunderous crack and saw a large limb of the tree fall straight on to the cars,” he said.

“Futile attempts of police trying to remove the branch followed before it was decided to leave the job up to the SES, who arrived shortly after.

“It’s lucky no one was outside at the time and near the tree as they would have been severely injured.”

Waves crash over Mornington Pier today.
Waves crash over Mornington Pier today.

Victoria SES and the Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning at 11am today.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Keris Arndt said the wind gusts in Frankston reached 91km/h at 11.03am today.

“It’s possible we are going to see these speeds for the rest of the day, throughout the night and into the morning,’’ Mr Arndt said. “It’s also expected to be a very cold night tonight.”

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Adam Morgan said the Mornington Peninsula could see snow tomorrow morning.

“It’s unlikely there will be snow in Melbourne but Arthurs Seat may see a dusting of snow in the morning.”

Frankston SES has received 120 calls since 11am with Frankston being hit the hardest with fallen trees blocking roads and damaging cars and buildings.

Wind damage also extended to parts of Mt Eliza and Langwarrin.

Frankston SES controller and senior officer Phil Holt said 22 Frankston SES volunteers were trying to attend all calls as quickly as they could.

“We are working as hard as we can to get out and the help everyone, but there are a lot of jobs to attend,” he said.

“We have three crews out and have enlisted the help of a crew from Chelsea and one from Essendon is on it’s way to help.

“We are expecting another impact of winds at 5pm today.”

Nepean Highway in Mt Eliza was closed after fallen trees blocked the northbound lanes between Canadian Bay Rd and Humphries Rd.

Have you been hit by storms in Melbourne today? Send your wild weather photos to online@leadernewspapers.com.au

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/wild-weather-lashes-melbournes-suburbs/news-story/a8d978c069a918703d8685110cd5c2f4