Severe storm in southeastern Australia: torrential rain, hail, bushfires and one of the worst power outages

Last Tuesday, a wild storm brought severe weather in southeastern Australia, battering the state of Victoria, leading to one of the worst power outages in the state.

Wind gusts up to 150 km/h, power outages and 1 casualty: torrential rain, hail and strong winds were the main characteristics of the storm. Wind gusts were up to 150 km/h uprooting trees, blowing entire sheds away, tore off roofs and toppled six electricity transmission towers, leaving half a million houses without power. Unfortunately, a 50-year-old dairy farmer died when the storm hit the South Gippsland region on Tuesday night. In Melbourne, 174.000 houses and businesses were left without power on Wednesday. Up to 80 schools and childhood services were closed in the state of Victoria due to the power outages, accessibility, water issues and sewage. Trains, buses and airplanes have had delays or they were canceled.

Massive bushfires ravaged Victoria: lightning strikes started multiple fires in Victoria while the severe winds fanned bushfires in the western state, destroying many houses, declaring a state of emergency.

According to climate data, last winter was Australia’s warmest during the last 100 years, which was followed by its driest autumn.

© 3B Meteo