‘Humdinger’ winter storm as rain lashes multiple states
Rachael Ward |
Fierce downpours, intense wind gusts and blizzard conditions have hit multiple states, sparking severe weather warnings.
A large rain band moving across Australia brought soggy conditions across large parts of the country, stretching from much of central Queensland to Tasmania and over to coastal areas of South Australia.
The sunshine state copped an “unseasonable” amount of rain including in the central highlands, where 45 millimetres was recorded in the 24 hours to Saturday morning, Bureau of Meteorology Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.
South Australia received a much-needed soaking after 18 months of below-average rainfall, with the Mount Lofty Ranges recording 40mm-60mm.
“The rain that they’ve seen in the past 24 hours has been really bucking the trend of recent months,” Mr Hines told AAP.
It brought blizzard conditions to popular alpine areas in NSW and Victoria, sparking alerts for travellers hitting the road.
Snow bunnies at Mt Buller experienced a night of wild winds up to 140km/h followed by a fresh blanket of snow, with some areas covered by two metres.
“It’s a humdinger of a winter storm,” Mt Buller’s Rhylla Morgan said.
The state’s dry west also received a drenching, with the Grampians recording falls of about 60mm.
The Bureau of Meteorology also warned of blizzard conditions in NSW alpine areas with peak gusts up to 100km/h in the Snowy Mountains on Saturday, including the lower resort slopes at Perisher and Thredbo.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service recommended back country travel be postponed until conditions improve.
Mr Hines said winds in both states had the potential to bring down trees, damage properties and cause power outages.
Some 42mm fell in just four hours on Saturday morning at Gray in Tasmania’s northeast after a similar amount fell in the previous 24 hours.
Emergency services are keeping an eye on rising rivers.
“Reduced visibility in heavy rain, with possible water over roads will make road conditions dangerous,” the bureau said.
Queensland and Tasmania were expected to cop the most rain late on Saturday before conditions ease on Sunday.
“It’s going to stay quite wintry because it will be chilly, cold temperatures, quite gusty winds, sort of showers, possibly some hail in there as well,” Mr Hines said.
The next burst of national soggy weather is already forming across West Australia and will hit Perth from about noon on Sunday.
AAP
