NewsBite

Rain to drench Melbourne over next two days but humidity to continue

LATEST: MELBOURNE’S west has copped a lashing of heavy rain during the afternoon commute. Flash flooding still expected this evening.

Melissa Meehan and Therese Allaoui
3 min read
March 21, 2017 - 5:55PM
More tropical weather to come

MELBOURNE’S west has copped a lashing of heavy rain during the afternoon commute.

The city’s outer east and north felt the brunt of the first storm front, with up to 37mm falling in Glen Waverly and 26mm in Bendigo.

SEND US YOUR STORM PICS: heraldsun@news.com.au

Earlier up to 49mm fell in Warnambool and Port Fairy.

Consistent showers will continue across the eastern suburbs until 9pm tonight — with rainfall so heavy it could lead to flash flooding.

SES duty officer Laura Dewildt said pockets of heavy rain could fall across Melbourne tonight, as previously seen in the west earlier today.

“Sometimes we will get little pockets of storms brewing across the state, which is what creates heavy rain and flash flooding,” she said.

“(The west has) had pockets of heavy rain come through. It’s not fast moving, it’s really intense short bursts of rain.”

Melbourne’s metropolitan area has already seen 15mm and is expected to get 15mm into the evening.

The rain will bring thunderstorms and lightning to the city, with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing a severe weather warning for Melbourne, Geelong and other parts of the state.

A severe thunderstorm warning has also been issued for Mildura, Ouyen and Warracknabeal, with the Bureau preductibng heavy rainfall and large hailstones.

Drivers are warned to be extra careful once the rain arrives, with hazards hard to see in wild conditions.

The downpour began in the state’s northeast last night, turning Yea’s main street into a river after receiving 45mm of rain in the last 24 hours

The town’s hospital, 100 kilometres from Melbourne, was also struck by lightning — luckily leaving little damage.

Nearby Strath Creek copped the brunt of the storm — receiving 63mm of rain within half an hour.

Both Melbourne and Geelong are among a handful of places told to be on high alert for severe weather.

Melbourne’s skyline from Maribyrnong. Picture: David Smith
Melbourne’s skyline from Maribyrnong. Picture: David Smith
The main street of Yea flooded last night after a heavy downpour. Picture: Facebook/Belinda McGovern Dean
The main street of Yea flooded last night after a heavy downpour. Picture: Facebook/Belinda McGovern Dean
Water poured into shops along the main street of Yea after a downpour on Monday evening. Picture: Facebook/Belinda McGovern Dean
Water poured into shops along the main street of Yea after a downpour on Monday evening. Picture: Facebook/Belinda McGovern Dean

A State Control Centre spokeswoman said the SES had received more than 100 calls for help in the past 24 hours — 20 of those from Yea, Alexandra and Kinglake.

The extreme weather conditions felt by those in the state’s northeast overnight and west this morning is expected to make its way to Melbourne during peak hour.

“We have a low pressure system slowing moving east across Victoria, ” the spokeswoman said.

“It’s moving along Warnambool, and Geelong is a main area of focus for us — it looks like it will hit there in the mid-late afternoon.

“And then it will come through Melbourne around home time — about 5 or 6pm.”

She said the rain would continue in Melbourne throughout the day — and could bring isolated showers and flash flooding in some areas.

Lucky for these guys they didn’t forget an umbrella. Picture Alex Coppel.
Lucky for these guys they didn’t forget an umbrella. Picture Alex Coppel.

SES volunteers are on standby and drivers are warned to take it easy on the roads.

Melbourne’s temperature was hovering at a balmy 25 degrees at 1.30pm.

Senior forecaster Stephen King said the warm and humid weather is “particularly unusual” for this time of year.

“It’s been a pretty dry March so far, with only 2mm of rain falling in Melbourne — so we’ll likely get most of March’s rainfall within a day or two,” he said.

“But it should clear up on Wednesday, with a top of 21C forecast.

Temperatures are set to warm up again on Thursday, with 27C and a possible late shower forecast for the Australian Grand Prix.

Pedestrians do their best to avoid puddles as they dash across the street in Melbourne on Tuesday. Picture Alex Coppel.
Pedestrians do their best to avoid puddles as they dash across the street in Melbourne on Tuesday. Picture Alex Coppel.

It’s been the second warmest March on record for Melbourne, so far, with temperatures reaching six degrees higher than average.

Melbourne’s warm spell is due to a lack of cold fronts over across the state — caused by a blocking high over the Tasman Sea.

The State Emergency Service is warning people to never drive, walk or drive through flood waters, and to keep clear of creeks and storm drains.

— with AAP

melissa.meehan@news.com.au

@melissameehanau

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/rain-to-drench-melbourne-over-next-two-days-but-humidity-to-continue/news-story/bac2cecadd0f806f888278e59592207a