Homes have been damaged by hail and flash flooding in Victoria’s south-west as ferocious storms sweep across the state.
- Emergency authorities warn storms moving across the state could produce life-threatening flash flooding
- The SES has been called out to at least 83 jobs in the Warrnambool area
- The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the weather front will continue to move east into Saturday evening
A severe thunderstorm warning issued by the State Emergency Service warned “damaging winds, heavy rain, large hailstones and life-threatening flash flooding” were likely.
The agency warning Victorians to be aware of floodwater, debris, damaged buildings, downed trees and fallen powerlines.
Emergency crews had been called to 83 jobs in the Warrnambool area by 4:00pm and were asking people to stay indoors.
Warrnambool has received 47 millimetres of rain since 9:00am today, while Mildura in the north-west received 12mm in the 30 minutes before midday and large hail.
Port Fairy resident Michael Steel said he was driving towards town from his farm nearby when the storm front hit, delivering lightning and torrential rain in a concentrated burst of about 30 minutes.
“There were cars parked on the side of the road that were taking shelter as well,” he said.
“They’d pulled off the Princes Highway and had taken cover under some big trees just on the nature strip to be safe.”
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Mr Steel took a photo of a thick slab of ice that appeared to have been created by heavy hail falling in the area.
“It looked like it was this specific zone of hail that had gone through in a pattern,” he said.
“This patch of hail had come through in like a squall and just come down very, very thickly.”
He said the area around him had received 50mm of rain within 50 minutes.