Nearly 25,000 Lost Electricity in South-East Queensland and Victorian Regions Following Severe Weather Systems
Around twenty-five thousand residences in south-east Queensland woke up lacking electricity on the start of the week after severe thunderstorms passed over the area, bringing powerful gusts hitting 109km/h.
Substantial Hailstones and Extensive Damage
Locals observed giant hailstones as large as seven centimeters in certain regions. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed that multiple regions across the state had been impacted by large hailstones.
This afternoon's storm has heavily impacted our infrastructure!
Utility workers were focused on reestablishing power throughout the affected regions, with nearly 70 crews working to handle the extensive power failures.
Victorian Weather Woes
Meanwhile, around one thousand households in Victoria also experienced electricity disruptions after Melbourne recorded its most precipitation in 18 months.
State Emergency Services responded to 598 requests for assistance across the region, mainly for structural issues but also for collapsed vegetation and water accumulation.
Most Affected Locations
- Werribee region - experienced considerable destruction
- Hoppers Crossing - multiple assistance requests
- Wyndham region - 179 calls for assistance
At one point on the previous day, over 28,000 electricity consumers in Victoria were without power.
Meteorological Predictions
Damp conditions were predicted to continue along large portions of Queensland's east this week as a weather pattern continued to pull in damp air against the coast.
The following day was forecast to be the wettest day, with persistent severe weather risk anticipated across different parts of both regions.
Health Warning
Health officials cautioned that there was an higher risk of thunderstorm-induced asthma across the northern rural areas, especially given the current weather patterns.
This alert comes after previous incidents where analogous circumstances led to significant health impacts in the area.
