Farming districts lashed by wild storms

A severe storm warning for the Riverina has been issued while crops have been pummelled and wiped out by hail. See the latest.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning forecasting hailstones and heavy rainfall for the Riverina, Central West Slopes and Plains, Lower Western and Upper Western districts of NSW.

A trough and cold front are sweeping east through parts of the state.

Thunderstorms, flashflooding and large hail storms are forecast for townships including Condobolin, Wagga Wagga, Albury, West Wyalong, Griffith, Narrandera, Cobar, Wilcannia and White Cliffs.

Meanwhile, crops have been pummelled and wiped out by storms and hail, and rural communities left without power in the past 48 hours of wild weather.

But other regions have received welcome soaking rain.

Storms continue to lash some of Australia’s most influential farming districts, with Wimmera farmers counting the cost of hail damage and Riverina landholders on standby for more storms on Friday afternoon.

A storm at Broken Hill in NSW hit a high-voltage power line and left a vast area without power.

Supplier Transgrid informed users the repairs were so extensive that they could take a couple of weeks.

Essential Energy and Transgrid have asked electricity users in the area to reduce their power use because the township of Broken Hill was being supported by a backup generator.

Crop insurance assessor and Riverina farmer Alan Brown said the impact of hail damage throughout the Wimmera in Victoria was dire.

He said farmers in that area had already been battling with dry conditions and would have welcomed the rainfall this week – but the storms brought with it was the cost.

Storm clouds roll into Ceduna Picture: Andrew Brooks

Storm Cell in Horsham Picture: Lynton Brown Landscape

Storm Cell in Horsham Picture: Lynton Brown Landscape

He said he didn’t hear of any hail in the Riverina, despite the forecasts, but there were still warnings for Friday afternoon and farmers remained on alert.

“We are not out of the woods yet,” he said.

Finley agronomist John Lacy said farmers in his area had welcomed the Thursday night rainfall.

He said 31.5mm fell at his place, and Cobram recorded 36mm.

“This will help wheat crops to finish and we could anticipate some higher yields from the rain,” he said.

Jason Mellings, who farms near Warracknabeal, said good rain this week would be vital to securing better results at harvest.

He said if the rain was, steady, and without damage it was welcome.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the trough and cold front would continue to travel throughout Victoria and southern NSW on Friday and shift to the northeast on Saturday.

Victoria and NSW are expecting more rainfall and thunderstorms throughout the weekend.

For the past seven days, Walpeup has recorded 43mm, Mildura 32mm, Woomelang 58mm, Warracknabeal 11mm, Rupanyup 17mm, Cobram 36mm and Shepparton 17mm.

Across the border in NSW, Bega has had 7mm, Bombala, 10mm, Gunning, 14mm, Cowra, 21mm, Grong Grong, 15mm and Albury, 26mm.