Heavy rains and severe storms have impacted Victoria and South Australia, prompting hundreds of emergency calls. In Victoria, residents in the north and north-east were warned of up to 200mm of rain from thunderstorms over the weekend.
Mangalore recorded nearly 50mm of rain on Sunday, with Bendigo at 39mm, Puckapunyal at 37mm, and Kyabram and Wangaratta at 29mm.
The Coomera River flooded Clagiraba Road on the Gold Coast, illustrating the widespread effects of the storms. The Victorian State Emergency Service had responded to over 110 assistance requests and 53 flood rescues by Sunday afternoon.
The situation was expected to worsen, with southern NSW and South Australia also forecasted to face severe flash flooding through Tuesday.
Victoria’s State Emergency Service responds to over 110 calls amid severe flooding.In South Australia, the State Emergency Service received more than 90 calls for help as fast-flowing floodwaters blocked roads in the Flinders Ranges.
The floods caused creeks to overflow and led to a power outage affecting Coober Pedy Hospital, which ran on backup power.
Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent warned of significant flash flooding, particularly in already saturated areas.
Residents and visitors in flood-prone regions were advised to stay vigilant and avoid driving through floodwaters. Meteorologist Michael Efron noted the exceptional moisture levels, comparable to those typically seen in Queensland.
Victoria’s State Emergency Service Chief, Tim Wiebusch, pointed out that storm fronts with tropical moisture often lead to severe flooding. The highest risk areas are in the state’s north, but metropolitan Melbourne could also be affected.
In response, SES crews set up sandbag collection points in high-risk areas like Bendigo and Castlemaine. This flood threat comes amid ongoing recovery from recent storms and Cyclone Jasper, with repair costs expected to exceed $2 billion.