Severe thunderstorm warnings as rain, wind hammer Victoria
Wild weather caused delays and made running difficult at the Stawell Gift in Victoria. Photo: AAP
Severe weather has lashed large parts of Victoria amid thunderstorm warnings for more heavy rainfall, damaging wind gusts and large hail.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued two alerts for more severe weather late on Monday with a cold front lashing Melbourne from about 2pm.
The Geelong and Hawthorn AFL match at the MCG was halted for about 40 minutes because of lightning with players taken from the field and spectators urged to seek shelter.
Further west of the state, the Stawell Gift‘s finals were delayed by about two hours after torrential rain hammered the town’s annual running festival, flooding the track.
The town recorded 25.2mm of rain since 9am.
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The storms that lashed the state also took out the power supply for almost 12,000 residents across western Victoria.
Horsham recorded 20mm of rain since 9am and Mount William recorded 30.8mm for the same period.
A thunderstorm warning was issued for people in Mallee and parts of Northern Country, North East, West and South Gippsland, Wimmera and Central Forecast Districts.
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that might lead to flash flooding in Mildura, Echuca, Shepparton, Wonthaggi, Wangaratta and Moe.
Bet Bet Creek recorded 20.4mm in 30 minutes.
The bureau also issued a severe weather warning for people in Central, North Central and parts of East Gippsland, South West, Northern Country, North East, West and South Gippsland, Wimmera and Mallee Forecast Districts.
Heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding is forecast with thunderstorms and areas of rain for western and central parts of the warning area during the late afternoon and evening.
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Six-hourly rainfall totals between 30mm and 50mm are likely, with isolated falls of 70mm possible in Bendigo, Seymour, Maryborough, Ballarat, Geelong and Melbourne.
Damaging wind gusts up to about 90 km/h are also forecast across the central and north-eastern ranges.
Meteorologist Stephanie Miles said Ballarat, the Otways and surrounds were likely to have the heaviest rain totals on Monday afternoon while Melbourne and Geelong would bear the brunt overnight.
Miles said there was no expectation of riverine flooding.
A road weather alert was issued for Melbourne.
“Slippery and flooded roads and reduced visibility in heavy rain will make driving conditions dangerous from Monday evening to early Tuesday morning in all suburbs,” the alert said.
-AAP
