Weather News

Rain and storm outbreak update

Ben Domensino, Wednesday September 14, 2016 - 11:14 AEST

Five states are under flood watch today as a prolonged outbreak of rain and thunderstorms continues.

An intense but slow-moving low pressure system will produce heavy rain and thunderstorms across South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania today, along with bursts of hail, alpine snow and damaging winds. An associated cold front and pre-frontal trough will also generate heavy rain and storms through New South Wales and inland parts of southern Queensland.

The centre of the low is moving over South Australia this morning, causing blustery winds, showers and storms across southern districts. Cape Willoughby recorded a wind gust of 106km/h and Adelaide Airport 82km/h. Damaging wind gusts and flash flooding are a risk in Adelaide, the Mount Lofty Ranges, Murraylands, Kangaroo Island and the South East districts today. Rivers levels are likely to rise rapidly, particularly about the Mount Lofty Ranges where 40-80mm of rain is likely.

Western and central Victoria received widespread rain totals of 30-50mm in the last 24 hours, generating moderate to major flooding. The heaviest fall was 79mm at Mount William in the Grampians, its highest daily rainfall in five years. Ballarat's 54mm is its heaviest September rain since 1921. Approximately 70 roads were closed across the state this morning, including the Great Ocean Road from Eastern View to Lorne due to a land slip and fallen trees. Rain will contract to eastern districts today, although showers and thunderstorms will re-develop in most areas from the afternoon. Damaging winds are a risk for alpine areas in the state's east and a plethora of flood watches and warnings are still in place. This includes a major flood warning for the Loddon River. At 10:10am EST today, a flood evacuation warning was in place for the Grangeburn River at Apex Drive, Holden and Abbott Streets in Hamilton.

Rain will spread across northern and eastern Tasmania today. Falls of up to 80mm are possible, especially in the northeast where thunderstorms are expected tonight. Tasmania experienced its wettest four month period on record between May and August, leaving catchments saturated, particularly in the state's north. A flood watch has been issued for all northeastern river basins and the east coast in response to the impending rain.

Most of New South Wales woke up underneath a blanket of cloud this morning, although dry conditions have returned to western districts. Showers and thunderstorms will move through northern, central and eastern districts today, most likely about the slopes and ranges and gradually clearing from the west. A flood watch remains in place for a number of inland river valleys and flood warnings are also in effect. Severe thunderstorm warnings are likely to be issued today as well.

A band of patchy rain, showers and thunderstorms will move over western and southern inland Queensland today. Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and heavy rain which could cause flash flooding. A flood watch is also in place for the western and central-southern interior due to the threat of more heavy rain in the next seven days.

If you need assistance during today's severe weather, contact the SES on 132 500. The latest warnings are available at: http://www.weatherzone.com.au/warnings.jsp

- Weatherzone

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