Flash flooding, power outages as wild storm lashes Melbourne
A wild storm has caused flash flooding and lightning strikes and left thousands without power after it swept through Melbourne on Sunday, disrupting day one of the Australian Open.
Victoria
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A wild storm has caused flash flooding and lightning strikes and left thousands without power after it swept through Melbourne on Sunday.
A storm cell from the state’s west crossed over the CBD about midday, disrupting the first day of the Australian Open.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Greater Melbourne area and parts of West and South Gippsland at 12.25pm.
Melbourne was lashed by heavy rain, with 25mm recorded in the Olympic Park area alone.
Cyclists and motorists were forced to navigate through floodwaters in Clarendon St, South Melbourne, and Flinders St in the city following the deluge, while the Port Phillip SES unit was called out to assist with a car trapped in flooding under the York St Bridge, as well as flooding in areas surrounding the Elwood Canal.
“As always, be aware of local conditions and do not drive through flood water – the depth of a pen is enough to float a car!” the unit warned on its Facebook page.
Other suburbs where flooding occurred following the storm include Hillside, Lilydale, Footscray, Boronia, Princes Hill, Parkville, St Kilda West and Carlton, according to VicEmergency.
There were also more than a dozen reports of fallen trees.
A toddler and a woman were hit by a fallen tree at a Horsham Caravan Park and were taken to hospital.
Paramedics were called to the scene about 4.30pm to treat the young boy and a woman in her 30s.
The woman suffered a severe head injury and was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, while the child suffered cuts and abrasions and was taken to Wimmera Base Hospital.
Two inbound lanes of the Monash Fwy were closed at Toorak Rd as a result of water of the road.
Three Altona-bound lanes of the M80 Ring Road near Dalton were also closed, as well as the left outbound lane of the Kings Way entrance to the West Gate Fwy.
Other suburbs hit hard by the downpour were Essendon, Laverton, Viewbank, Coldstream, Avalon, Moorabbin and Scoresby, where more than 10mm of rain was recorded by the Bureau of Meteorology just before 2pm.
Dozens of requests for help were made to State Emergency Services, with crews called to assist with fallen trees, building damage and a vehicle stuck in flood water.
The CFA were also called out to assist with flooding and power lines sparking.
Hundreds of homes were left without power following the storms, including 1259 affected customers in Moonee Ponds.
Hundreds of properties in Mount Waverley, Nunawading, Blackburn South and Mount Eliza were also left without power.
The lights also went dark at major retailers with around 12 stores and the downstairs food court at Chadstone Shopping Centre losing power between 12.47pm and 1.30pm.
Transport infrastructure has also been affected, the rain forcing bus replacements on the Hurstbridge railway line between Greensborough and Eltham.
The railway line was suspended at 1.26pm and resumed train services at 2.32pm.
Meanwhile, tennis fans scrambled for cover when play was suspended on the outside courts at Melbourne Park during the first day of the Australian Open.
The wild weather comes after the state sweltered through a blistering heatwave, with more warm weather to follow in the coming days.
Maximum temperatures are forecasted to reach the high 20s on Monday and Tuesday, before a top of 32C is forecast for Wednesday.
Tech fail leaves AO fans stranded outside arena
Technology that was meant to speed up fan entry into one of the biggest courts at the Australian Open has failed at first attempt.
Spectators were stuck in long queues outside the stadium on the first morning of AO25 due to a technical fault related to a QR code.
An “Arena Pass” for the whole of John Cain Arena was for the first time this year meant to give anyone without a reserved ticket the chance to join a virtual queue rather than standing in line.
By scanning a QR code and waiting for an SMS, they were meant to be ushered into the arena when seats were available.
But — despite the technology being successfully testes on a smaller scale at last year’s Open, the computer said no on Sunday morning. It meant long lines of fans were left standing outside entry gates unless they had a reserved seat.
Signs outside the arena directed fans elsewhere. “The virtual queue for arena passes is temporarily closed,’’ they said.
“While you wait, please enjoy the tennis action on the big screens at Grand Slam Oval or Garden Square.’’
In a statement, Tennis Australia said: “There was an issue with the virtual queue technology at JCA this morning.
“Staff admitted fans manually and play started on time. The provider has resolved the issue.’’
Originally published as Flash flooding, power outages as wild storm lashes Melbourne
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