Victoria braces for severe weather again
Melburnians are being warned to brace for more wild weather after the city was battered by flash flooding, hail and gale-force winds.
Victoria
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Dark clouds blanketed Melbourne on Friday as Victorians were warned of more thunderstorms to come.
Heavy rain and large hailstones were due to reach Kyneton, Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh, with flash flooding expected in parts of the state.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued an alert on Friday, warning that “severe thunderstorms” were on the way.
Severe thunderstorms were detected on the radar about 6.20pm near Camberwell, Caulfield, Glen Waverley and Healesville.
“Heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding, damaging winds and large hailstones is likely,” a BOM spokesperson said on Friday.
Rain pelted down in the late afternoon in Geelong and Melbourne, causing flash flooding in many areas including Lethbridge, South Yarra and Port Melbourne.
Shelford in western Victoria recorded 35mm of rain in the 45 minutes to 4.15pm Friday.
A more general severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Central, North Central, West and South Gippsland and parts of the Wimmera district.
The SES urged people to avoid travel if possible, and to safely pull away from trees, drains, low-lying areas and floodwater if driving conditions are dangerous.
The service also reminded people to keep away from fallen powerlines and always assume they are live.
A gale winds warning was in place for the East Gippsland coast, while a strong wind warning was issued for the central Gippsland coast.
It comes after flash flooding yesterday wreaked havoc in Melbourne, with one family forced to abandon their car after it became stuck in flood water in South Melbourne.
The Victorian State Emergency Service said “heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding is likely” and reminded the public to never drive through flood water.
It comes after regional Victoria was hit by wild weather on Wednesday and thousands of residents in the state’s central west were left in the dark after wild storms brought down power lines and caused flash flooding.
Videos shared online showed Ballarat residents wading through knee-deep high floodwaters while others reported a deluge of rain drenching surrounding areas.
More than 30,000 Victorians camping across the state were warned to brace for severe weather.
The weather bureau issued a severe thunderstorm warning on Wednesday afternoon, encompassing much of northern Victoria with heavy rainfall, flash flooding and large hailstones possible.
Strong winds were also forecast for coastal areas including Wilsons Promontory, Phillip Island, Rosebud, Apollo Bay and the Surf Coast and V/Line trains on the Ballarat line between Ballarat and Wendouree had to be replaced by coaches on Wednesday.
The Department of Transport issued a reminder to drivers not to enter flood water and risk being stranded.
“Drivers should look out for cyclists and motorbikes which can be harder to see,” the department spokesperson said.
“If the rain becomes too heavy for wipers to cope, we suggest pulling over safely and waiting for the rain to pass.
“Where possible, parked cars should be moved under cover and away from trees and the risk of falling branches.”
A brown rot warning has been issued for fruit growers which could affect peach, cherry, apricot and nectarine trees due to the high humidity.
The SES urged Victorians to drive to conditions and always avoid flood waters.
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