East coast weather: big wet headed for Sydney after month of rain dumped on parts of Victoria in 24 hours
Heavy rain and damaging winds are sweeping through southern NSW towards Sydney after delivering a month’s worth of rain in Victoria.
The Snowy Mountains, including Perisher and Thredbo, were expected to face damaging winds and peak gusts up to 130km/h on Tuesday morning, as severe weather warnings for Victoria were lifted.
Melbourne yesterday faced its wettest day since March 2020, according to the state agency commander of the Victorian SES, David Baker. Last month the city faced its driest March on record.
Trentham East in central Victoria recorded 97mm since 9am on Monday – the highest total in Victoria.
BoM senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said rainfall will initially ease across the east as the system moves into NSW before surging back later this week.
“We’re now seeing the system move into eastern Victoria and eastern parts of New South Wales, but much weaker than what we saw yesterday,” he said.
Thunderstorms are expected to redevelop over southeast Queensland and northeast NSW on Thursday, then the east of NSW and Victoria on Friday and Saturday, once the active system is joined by a new system moving through the southeast.
Sydney could be drenched with up to 20mm of rain on Thursday and up to 70mm on Friday. Melbourne is expected to face easing showers by Wednesday evening and avoid resurgent rains later this week.
The BoM doesn’t expect widespread floods beyond isolated incidents, thanks to low rainfalls over the last two months.
“Even though there’s been some heavy rainfall, the ground’s very dry, so apart from some isolated flash flooding, there’s been no real major flooding concerns,” Narramore said.
Victoria’s emergency services fielded more than 500 requests for help as thunderstorms, damaging winds and heavy rain pummelled Melbourne’s western suburbs and the centre and east of the state on Monday.
There were close to 250 reports of building damage and 110 flood-related incidents in the 24 hours to 7am, the State Emergency Service said.
More than 60 call-outs related to trees down on roads during the wild storms.
There have been four flood rescues since midday on Monday, according to an SES duty officer, Erin Mason.
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“Mainly it’s been people driving through flood water,” Mason said. “So just a reminder to people to never drive through flood water. If the road is flooded I encourage people to stop, turn around and find an alternate path.”
Mason expected the number of callouts to rise in coming hours as the weather system headed east and more residents woke up to find damage at their homes.
A woman at Daylesford in central Victoria had a narrow escape after falling into a stormwater drain just before 9pm. She fell down an embankment and was carried by fast-flowing water until she grabbed hold of a metal pole, according to Victoria police.
The 58-year-old tried to call for help but couldn’t be heard over the sound of rushing water. She was eventually able to climb to safety, suffering minor cuts and bruises.
The western suburbs of Melbourne including Melton, and parts of Geelong, were among the areas hardest hit overnight.
On Monday lightning caused a 40minute halt to the Geelong and Hawthorn AFL match at the MCG while the Stawell Gift’s finals were delayed by about two hours due to torrential rain and water over the track.