Downpours in Victoria triggered six rescue operations — ABC News Australia
In the Australian state of Victoria, heavy rain and thunderstorms caused trees to fall, damaged buildings, disrupted power supplies and led to six rescue operations due to flooding. Since midday the previous day, the state emergency service has received around 200 calls for help, ABC News Australia reports.
Victoria State Emergency Service duty officer Shane McBride urged residents not to attempt to drive through flooded roads. According to him, flash flooding can develop very quickly.
Flooding of farms in Gippsland
Dairy farms in Gippsland were flooded. Farm owner Nicole Saunders, who lives near Maffra, said her property was already under water and everything around it was heavily saturated with moisture. She keeps 600 dairy cows, grows strawberries and spent the day moving livestock to higher ground.
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More than 100 millimetres of rainfall is forecast for some areas of Gippsland by the next day. Saunders believes the flooding may peak on Sunday. The owner of The Berry Dairy also decided to close the business for several days due to the effects of the severe weather.
Risk of heavy rainfall
Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Ursula Connor said a slow-moving low-pressure system would shift eastward, while heavy rain and thunderstorms would continue in central and eastern Victoria. A persistent gusty south-easterly wind is expected to strengthen, bringing moisture to the southern parts of the state. The highest risk of heavy and, in some places, intense rainfall is forecast in the Otways and the Strzelecki Ranges.
At the same time, grain farmers in the west of the state welcomed the spring rains. Murtoa farmer John Delaganti said the precipitation arrived in time for grain filling. Agricultural consultant Martin Colbert believes the rain could help realise the potential for a record harvest. About 3,000 customers in the Heathcote area were without electricity during overnight thunderstorms.
