Severe warning issued as 'life-threatening' floods wreak havoc across states
- Replies 2
Residents of Victoria and New South Wales are bracing themselves for what the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has described as a 'life-threatening' extreme weather event.
The forecast is grim, with severe rainfall expected to cause flash flooding and thunderstorms across the two states.
The BOM has issued a severe weather warning, predicting that the extreme weather event will sweep across northern Victoria and southern New South Wales on Sunday afternoon, 7 January.
This came after severe flooding that wreaked havoc in parts of Victoria two weeks ago, inundating towns and causing multiple fatalities.
The severe storm also left tens of thousands of Victorians without power and disrupted public transport, with some regional and metro lines suspended.
The warning is pertinent for those in campgrounds and caravan parks, who are most at risk from the impending deluge.
Showers and thunderstorms have been predicted to increase over the next few days this week, with heavy rainfall developing.
This could lead to 'dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding' in the northern parts of Victoria and East Gippsland and southwest New South Wales, including Wagga Wagga and Deniliquin.
The intense rainfall was also expected to continue into Monday morning, 8 January, until Tuesday, with about 150 millimetres of rain forecast.
As of writing, 8 January, the BOM reported that heavy rainfall and flash flooding were observed with severe storms through South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria.
More than three thousand Victorians remain without power—at least 1800 homes and residences were dark in the state’s west, while more than 1400 residents in the east.
However, authorities warned that the severe storms could dump more than 200 millimetres, causing flooding in catchments already filled by past downpours.
Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent has urged residents to prepare, particularly those living in flood-prone areas.
'We are planning here…for what is possible, we are planning for in excess of 200mm of rain,' he said on Saturday, 6 January.
'The extreme weather event will commence in the north-west and the south-west before moving across through central, north-central and into the east of the state.'
This warning came after two people died, and several had to be rescued from a campground in eastern Victoria last week.
‘It's highly likely that there will be flash floods in flood-prone areas,’ Nugent said.
‘If you're living in a flood-prone area, please make the necessary plans.’
He also pleaded for drivers to avoid floodwaters.
‘You're driving a car, not a boat,’ he said.
According to a spokesman from the BOM, ‘We're going to see widespread rain and thunderstorm activity developing over western parts of the state throughout the Sunday morning and then through the rest of the day.’
In addition to the severe weather warning for Victoria and New South Wales, a severe thunderstorm warning has also been issued for South Australia.
Heavy rainfall is forecast for parts of the state, including the York Peninsula and Kangaroo Island districts. Residents in these areas are urged to prepare for potential flash flooding.
As of publishing this article, residents in parts of the Goulburn Valley town of Seymour have been asked to evacuate due to the risk of flooding as heavy rainfall continues. We’ll keep you updated on the developments as best as we can.
What are your thoughts on these extreme weather events? Have you been affected by the recent floods? Share your experiences and tips for staying safe in the comments below.
The forecast is grim, with severe rainfall expected to cause flash flooding and thunderstorms across the two states.
The BOM has issued a severe weather warning, predicting that the extreme weather event will sweep across northern Victoria and southern New South Wales on Sunday afternoon, 7 January.
This came after severe flooding that wreaked havoc in parts of Victoria two weeks ago, inundating towns and causing multiple fatalities.
A severe storm began to hit Victoria on Sunday, 7 January. Credit: Bureau of Meteorology
The severe storm also left tens of thousands of Victorians without power and disrupted public transport, with some regional and metro lines suspended.
The warning is pertinent for those in campgrounds and caravan parks, who are most at risk from the impending deluge.
Showers and thunderstorms have been predicted to increase over the next few days this week, with heavy rainfall developing.
This could lead to 'dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding' in the northern parts of Victoria and East Gippsland and southwest New South Wales, including Wagga Wagga and Deniliquin.
The intense rainfall was also expected to continue into Monday morning, 8 January, until Tuesday, with about 150 millimetres of rain forecast.
As of writing, 8 January, the BOM reported that heavy rainfall and flash flooding were observed with severe storms through South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria.
More than three thousand Victorians remain without power—at least 1800 homes and residences were dark in the state’s west, while more than 1400 residents in the east.
However, authorities warned that the severe storms could dump more than 200 millimetres, causing flooding in catchments already filled by past downpours.
Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent has urged residents to prepare, particularly those living in flood-prone areas.
'We are planning here…for what is possible, we are planning for in excess of 200mm of rain,' he said on Saturday, 6 January.
'The extreme weather event will commence in the north-west and the south-west before moving across through central, north-central and into the east of the state.'
This warning came after two people died, and several had to be rescued from a campground in eastern Victoria last week.
‘It's highly likely that there will be flash floods in flood-prone areas,’ Nugent said.
‘If you're living in a flood-prone area, please make the necessary plans.’
He also pleaded for drivers to avoid floodwaters.
‘You're driving a car, not a boat,’ he said.
According to a spokesman from the BOM, ‘We're going to see widespread rain and thunderstorm activity developing over western parts of the state throughout the Sunday morning and then through the rest of the day.’
In addition to the severe weather warning for Victoria and New South Wales, a severe thunderstorm warning has also been issued for South Australia.
Heavy rainfall is forecast for parts of the state, including the York Peninsula and Kangaroo Island districts. Residents in these areas are urged to prepare for potential flash flooding.
As of publishing this article, residents in parts of the Goulburn Valley town of Seymour have been asked to evacuate due to the risk of flooding as heavy rainfall continues. We’ll keep you updated on the developments as best as we can.
.png){kind=icon}
