More extreme weather across eastern states

Mibenge Nsenduluka | October 28, 2022

Victorians have been urged to take extra care ahead of the long weekend as heavy rainfall is expected to cause more flash flooding in the lead up to Melbourne Cup.

Clean-up efforts continue across Victoria on Friday after homes and businesses were flooded in the state’s second wettest October on record.

Residents in Lilydale recorded up to 70mm of rain, and SES Victoria chief officer Tim Wiebusch warned there’s more severe weather on the way in the northern, southern and far east parts of the state.

“We still very much have a flood emergency on our hands,” Mr Wiebusch said.

“We could see on each day between today, tomorrow and the weekend 10 to 30mm in some cases, particularly on the [Yarra] Ranges, with the potential for some isolated falls.”

There are about 58 active warnings across the state, including an evacuation order in Kerang, with moderate flooding at The Loddon River.

Residents in Echuca, Barmah and Lower Moira were also ordered to evacuate due to dangerous floodwater.

Multiple Watch and Acts remain active at Bunbartha, Kaarimba, and Mundoona area along with the Murray River downstream of Tocumwal to Barham.

A landslide warning was issued for Bogong Village and Falls Creek on the Bogong-High Plains Road area.

Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp urged people to avoid flood-impacted areas over the long weekend.

“This will be the first Melbourne Cup in two years where there’s been no COVID restrictions in relation to the Cup itself,” Mr Crisp said.

“We expect literally 100,000 people to be going to the Cup… a lot of people will be travelling across the state to all parts to enjoy the long weekend. What we ask is that people stay across the conditions in the area that they’re going to.”

Meanwhile in NSW, Premier Dominic Perrottet is set to meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday to discuss more federal funding for flood-impacted communities.

There were more than a dozen emergency warnings across the state on Thursday evening as clean-up efforts continue in inland communities, including Deniliquin, Moama and Moree.

Severe thunderstorm warnings are active in the Northern Rivers, the Mid North Coast, the Hunter region, and inland in the North West Slopes and Plains and Northern Tablelands.

In the Northern Rivers, storm cells will likely bring heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding, large hailstones and dangerous winds through the night.

A number of major roads and highways remain closed across the state.

The State Emergency Service has issued 74 emergency warnings, and 19 “evacuate now” warnings remain in place.

Conditions are easing in Tasmania, however State Emergency Service (SES) crews remain prepared.

“Tasmania SES has received advice from the Bureau of Meteorology which forecasts that weather conditions are expected to continue easing this afternoon, with more significant falls now contracting to the southeast and in particular into the Huon region,” Acting Director Leon Smith said.

“With conditions easing in the northern half of the state, Tasmania SES emergency operations centres have been stood down in the northern regional area and reduced to level one operation in the north-west and north.”

Flood alerts remain in place, including a moderate flood warning for the South Esk River with flooding likely in streams and rivers over the next two days.

Emergency warnings are also in place for Royal George, Avoca, Ross, Campbell Town, Epping Forest, Morningside and surrounds.

A weather warning was issued for parts of the Northern Territory on Thursday night, with severe thunderstorms likely to produce damaging winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in Brunette Downs and Barkly District east of Tennant Creek.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued in southeast Queensland, with residents on high alert for damaging winds and large hailstones.

Severe thunderstorms were detected around Gympie and Pomona and the area southwest of Noosa Heads on Thursday, and a major flood Warning was issued for the Balonne River.

Hail stones measuring 4cm were recorded over the Gold Coast hinterland.

Moderate flooding likely at the Condamine River and Bokhara River.