Severe Storms May Lash Vic Similarly to SA
- Simon. B
- Apr 9, 2017
- 3 min read
Storms are intensifying over the Victorian coast this afternoon as the Bureau of Meteorology warns of potentially disastrous damaging winds, flash flooding and large hail stones hitting Melbourne directly and crossing into the surrounding outer metro areas of the South-East as the strong cold front moves over the state. Priority weather warnings have been issued by BOM for residents of Victoria and Melbourne:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DAMAGING WINDS, averaging 60 to 70 km/hr with peak gusts to 110 km/h are possible about Alpine areas (above 1200 metres) of the Northeast, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland but should ease by early afternoon.
DAMAGING WINDS, averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts to 110 km/h will continue to develop across southern and southeastern parts of the Southwest district over the next few hours, before extending into the Central and North Central districts during the afternoon and evening. Winds are expected to ease from the west overnight Sunday into Monday.
HEAVY RAIN which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible across eastern and coastal parts of the Southwest district, and the Central and North Central districts during Sunday afternoon and evening.
24 hour totals of 40 to 60mm are likely across eastern and coastal parts of the Southwest district, and the Central and North Central districts. Isolated higher falls of 60-80mm are possible. Rainfall is expected to contract to eastern Victoria overnight Sunday into Monday.
Locations which may be affected include Falls Creek, Kyneton, Ballarat, Geelong, Melbourne and Bacchus Marsh.
The strongest wind gusts recorded to 1030am EST include:
- 119km/h at Mt Hotham.
- 106km/h at Mt Buller.
- 98km/h at Falls Creek.
- 93km/h at Cape Nelson.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
- Move vehicles under cover or away from trees;
- Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony;
- Keep clear of fallen power lines;
- Don't walk, ride or drive through flood water;
- Keep clear of creeks and storm drains;
- Be aware that in fire affected areas, rainfall run-off into waterways may contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks;
- Be alert that in areas recently affected by fires, heavy rainfall increases the potential for landslides and debris across roads -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A major concern is the threat to the electrical grid throughout the Victorian country and outer Melbourne metro areas. During the recent South Australian storms the state experienced heavy rainfall of up to 58mm and wind gusts of 110km/h, which resulted in widespread tree felling onto power lines and further damaging a recovering transmission towers from the devastating storms prior, causing large scale blackouts. Which, given Victoria is expected to receive gusts of up to 119km/h and heavy rainfall of up to 80mm, a real threat exists. It hasn’t been without speculation by various sources that Victoria’s power systems are ill prepared to deal with a similar blow, especially from such turbulent weather conditions contributing to the frailty of the power structure. If the grid were to become broken, the resulting blackouts could create a domino effect on emergency services and already stretched energy companies, causing a crisis. If such a crisis were to happen, political posturing would be the play of the day as the needs of the state takes a second place to criticism of renewable energy, complaints of the closure of Hazelwood coal power station and maybe a bit closure look at Elon Musk. SNN advices Victorians to keep informed of further updates from BOM through the following sites: http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/?ref=hdr http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/warnings/
