Storm sweeps over central Victoria

Blackouts across the region are likely the after-effects of last night’s storms.

Powercor’s website says ‘pollution’ is causing power outages around the Maryborough area, which a spokesperson said was a term often used to refer to weather events and could include dust or moisture getting into conductors.

The fault on the Pyrenees Highway at Moolort was affecting about 60 people around the area as well as Cotswold and Majorca.

About 20 more were impacted in Glengower and Mount Cameron, with others without power in Red Lion.

Powercor estimated power would be restored by noon.

It was also investigating the causes of outages in Nareewillock, Charlton, Yeungroon Boort and Gredgwin, with power expected to come back on throughout the morning and early afternoon.

Powercor was also investigating smaller outages in Lockwood South, Arnold and Daylesford.

Powercor had mobilised teams across the state to deal with the lingering effects of last nights storms, the spokesperson said.

The worst-affected areas are in the state’s south-west, they said. About 17-and-a-half thousand lightning strikes were recorded last night within a 150km radius of Terang, near Warrnambool.

Update, Thursday 8.15am

SES crews were kept busy last night after downpours and wind gusts felled trees across Bendigo, with more heavy rain possible this afternoon.

Yesterday’s strongest gusts hit at about 5.30pm, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, which recorded two 70km an hour blasts.

The Bendigo SES unit had 23 jobs in the four-and-a-half hours to 9.30pm, spokesperson Natalie Stanway said.

“Mostly they were for trees down but there were maybe six or so jobs for building damage as well,” she said.

Marong’s SES unit had a quieter evening, with the groups Robin Neller saying they had just one storm job, “and a rather insignificant job at that.

Bendigo has recorded 8mm of rain since 9am yesterday, with the chance of showers across the region this morning, the BOM says.

Heavy falls could strike again this afternoon, though the BOM is predicting lighter winds.

Bendigo can expect a humid 33, Castlemaine 30, Maryborough 32 and Echuca 32

Update, Wednesday 6.19pm:

Powercor is reporting a number of outages in central Victoria since the storm hit.

Customers in Bendigo, Ironbark, Big Hill, Marong, Ravenswood, Shelbourne, Lockwood, Lockwood South, Mandurang South, Arnold, Arnold West, Newbridge, Murphys Creek, Heathcote, Dingee, Wedderburn, Kurting, Powlett Plains, Logan, Cochranes Creek and Emu are affected. 

Update, 5.44pm:

TREES are down and emergency services are responding to a number of incidents in central Victoria.

Gusty winds and dusty clouds descended on Bendigo, marking the start of the storm, then rain started pelting down.

There are numerous reports of trees down along Queen Street in Kangaroo Flat.

Trees are also down in Flora Hill, Junortoun, Strathdale, Kennington, and the Bendigo CBD.

Reports of building damage have emerged in Epsom, Kennington and East Bendigo.

The reports extend to Jarklin and St Arnaud.

Firefighters were also responding to a fire in Newbridge, and two car crashes.

One crash is north of Inglewood, at Salisbury West. The other is at Redesdale. 

Update, 3.30pm:

Bendigo, Maryborough, Kyneton, Castlemaine and Echuca may all be hit by heavy storms as rainfall moves through the state.

Meteorologist Steven McGibbony said the warm, humid conditions were leading to an unstable atmosphere, which could cause showers and thunderstorms to develop over Wednesday and Thursday.

Heavy rains have already hit western Victoria.

11.40: 

Wycheproof and Charlton may be expected by heavy rainfall and flash flooding over the next few hours. 

Emergency Victoria issued a thunderstorm warning for the Mallee and Wimmera this morning.

The State Emergency Service has warned people to keep clear of creeks and storm drains, not drive, ride or walk through flood water, and avoid phone use during the storm.

Earlier:

PARTS OF central Victoria may be hit by heavy rain as thunderstorms move through the region this afternoon, but it is not clear yet where deluges might land.

There is a high chance of showers and thunderstorms as a low pressure trough moves across the state, Bureau of Meteorology Dean Stewart said.

“If they do come rainfall totals will vary quite markedly. It will depend on where the thunderstorms hit,” he said.

Storms could bring as much as 40mm of rain to one area in the conditions expected, he said, but areas either side of the cells could have nothing at all.

The likelihood of storms will increase throughout the afternoon and into early evening, Mr Stewart said.

Bendigo could today expect 33 degrees, Castlemaine 31, Maryborough 32 and Echuca 34.

The BOM was predicting humid conditions to continue into Thursday with the high chance of morning showers followed by heavier afternoon falls bringing anywhere from 4-15mm of rain in Bendigo.

Similar falls are expected in Echuca and areas encompassing Maryborough, Castlemaine and Redesdale.

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