Thousands of homes without power, wild weather to lash Victoria for a month
Flash flooding caused havoc on dozens of Melbourne’s roads during peak-hour, creating dangerous conditions for drivers.
Victoria
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Flash flooding caused havoc on dozens of Melbourne’s roads on Thursday during peak-hour, creating dangerous conditions for drivers.
Emergency services had warned residents that a deluge was expected to hit between 5pm and 8pm.
“We’ll start to see a development of more intense showers in the western suburbs of Melbourne initially from about 5pm,” Diana Eadie, of the Bureau of Meteorology, said mid-afternoon.
“As we progress to 6pm and 7pm, we’ll see that band of showers move through the central Melbourne area around about 6pm, before moving across the eastern suburbs closer to 7pm.”
FOR UP-TO-THE-MINUTE COVERAGE OF REGIONAL AREAS CLICK HERE
Later, a bureau spokesman said “the rain, fortunately, didn’t arrive for Melbourne” to the levels they were expecting.
A State Emergency Service spokesman they were still getting calls after 7pm.
“There have been no incidents of significance that have come up besides, obviously, flooding and flash flooding incidents, but nothing of significance aside from what we expected and predicted,” he said.
Residents in Hawthorn, Elwood, Caulfield, Box Hill, Thomastown and Blackburn were issued with watch and act messages. Flash flooding caused chaos for commuters on Punt Rd, in Richmond, while nearby Gough and Melrose streets had to be closed.
The closure of the exit ramp of the Western Freeway to Old Melbourne Rd, at Ballan, due to flooding also forced motorists to detour. The SES set up a sandbag collection point at the Bunnings Warehouse, in Port Melbourne, allowing locals at risk of flooding to collect them and begin preparing for rising waters.
Westbound lanes on the congested Thompsons Rd, in Clyde North, were also closed at peak-hour.
Staff at the Anglers Tavern, in Moonee Ponds, which overlooks the Maribyrnong River in Melbourne’s west, were last night preparing in case they became inundated with rising river levels. With the river being subject to a major flood warning on Thursday, staff had begun moving furniture to higher ground as they prepared for the worst.
Landslide - Advice for Great Ocean Road - Separation Creek. For more info: https://t.co/93VzK5xLUF#viclandslide
— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) October 13, 2022
As at 4:20pm, we've hit 30 flood-related rescues for people entering floodwater. And it's not good enough.
— VICSES News (@vicsesnews) October 13, 2022
If you're driving and approach floodwater - turn back. We want to spend our time and resources helping those most at risk, not people driving into floodwater (1/2). pic.twitter.com/O15oI6izPL
This WATCH & ACT - RIVERINE FLOOD - AVOID THE FLOODED AREA is for Maribyrnong River
— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) October 13, 2022
More details at https://t.co/RP7QseKkhB
Stay safe - avoid the flooded area. Be aware of potential hazards caused by flooding and never enter floodwater. pic.twitter.com/1azBVppph3
“We’ve seen photos of the 1993 flood which is what we’re basing our expectations on, and it pretty much hit where we’re standing right here, so that’ll affect the bottom half of our bistro,” pub manager Anthony Cook said.
The Werribee River, in the western suburbs, was also declared at risk of a major flood, with the SES saying water levels were continuing to rise.
“The Werribee River catchment has recorded rainfall averaging around 40mm in the upper catchment and 22mm in the lower catchment since 9am Wednesday,” an alert read.
“Rainfall totals of 40-50mm are forecast for the upper catchment and 10-20mm are forecast for the lower catchment for the remainder of Thursday.
“Water levels of the Werribee and Lerderderg rivers, at various locations, are rising.”
This WATCH & ACT - RIVERINE FLOOD - AVOID THE FLOODED AREA is for King River at Docker Road Bridge
— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) October 13, 2022
More details at https://t.co/RP7QseKkhB
Stay safe - avoid the flooded area. Be aware of potential hazards caused by flooding and never enter floodwater. pic.twitter.com/GDXKnIoYIN
This WATCH & ACT - FLASH FLOOD - STAY INDOORS is for Beaufort
— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) October 13, 2022
More details at https://t.co/RP7QseKkhB
If you are located in Beaufort, you are in danger. You should immediately move indoors, away from floodwater. Do not enter floodwater. pic.twitter.com/zyX3hgTxeW
Melbourne
Flooding causes road closures
A weather road alert has been issued for all suburbs across Melbourne, with drivers recommended to reduce their speed, turn on their headlights and maintain a greater distance between them and the vehicle in front.
Multiple roads have experienced extreme flooding including Punt Rd in Richmond, High St in Heathcote and Wave St and Foam St in Elwood.
It’s understood the basement at the Alfred Hospital filled with water on Thursday morning.
Fears Yarra River could spill
Sky News meteorologist Alison Osborne said there was a risk of flash flooding in the CBD if rain was heavy enough to overwhelm the drainage system.
She also warned the Yarra River could be impacted, prompting St Kevin’s College students to switch to remote learning on Thursday.
The school’s Heyington campus, alongside the Yarra in Toorak, has previously experienced flooding in 2005 and 2009.
Students at the school’s other campuses will attend class as normal.
An SES spokesman said people in areas of concern should seek higher ground as a matter of urgency.
“Whatever you do, don’t enter the floodwaters,” they said.
“If you’re unsure about whether your car will make it through a deeper puddle, just assume it won’t.
“It’s far better to take a safer, albeit longer route, than get stuck in the water and put yourself in danger.”
The heaviest rainfall was expected to fall on Thursday afternoon with conditions easing on Friday morning.
Regional Victoria
Town prepares for one-in-50-year flood
At least one country community was told to evacuate early rather than taking its chances with rising waters on Wednesday.
At a town hall meeting, Rochester residents were warned to prepare for a once-in-50-year flood, with waters potentially rising to 115.5m above sea level.
Residents had earlier lined up at the recreation reserve to collect thousands of sandbags that volunteers filled up.
Rochester SES volunteer Judith Gledhill urged residents to self-evacuate after preparing their homes and properties for the weather event.
Woman rescued from floodwaters
Meanwhile a woman was rescued from floodwaters in Nulla Vale.
SES and ambulance crews were called to the scene, just outside of Heathcote, about 5pm on Wednesday evening.
It’s understood the woman’s vehicle was rescued as water rushed through her vehicle.
An SES spokesman said the vehicle was towed to safety.
Crews also carried out five car rescues on Thursday, prompting them to warn people to not drive through floodwaters.
Another 20-50mm possible across most parts of #Victoria today; upwards of 60mm on/north of the ranges.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) October 12, 2022
Heavy rain overnight has already triggered a #SevereWeatherWarning and several #MajorFloodWarnings for #Victoria, with further updates expected today. 🌧ï¸https://t.co/i6RoPPgv5Dpic.twitter.com/Q8IxU6ykpg
Landslides prompt evacuations
Fears of the impending deluge also prompted landslide warnings including a “slow-moving active landslide” on the Bogong-High Plains Rd at Bogong Village.
Regional Roads Victoria identified cracking in the area, with debris moving below the track onto the road, prompting an evacuation warning for people on the mountain.
With many dams, reservoirs and lakes across the state already full, the risk of them spilling over sparked concerns the state could experience flooding similar to that of 2011.
Flood warnings were in place for catchments across northern, central and eastern Victoria.
Authorities also warned of damaging wind gusts of up to 90-100km/h across the Grampians, Central Highlands and Alpine areas.
On the peaks, it was feared they could reach up to 120km/h.
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