Huge hailstones and flash flooding have smashed Victoria as the state experiences its wettest two-day period in months.
On Sunday afternoon, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued by the bureau over the northeastern suburbs, “capable of producing giant hail, flash flooding and damaging winds”.
Dozens of suburbs were smashed with golf-ball sized hail and homes in Warrandyte had their outdoor shelter ripped to pieces.
Backyards looked like they were under a blanket of snow as the hail came down.
The Monash Freeway was turned into a “car park” with vehicles brought to a standstill and some reported smashed windscreens.
Customers at a Woolworths in Templestowe in Melbourne’s northeast were evacuated after parts of the ceiling collapsed.
Heavy rain, damaging winds and large hail are possible in eastern parts of the state including East Gippsland where fires continue to burn.
“We’re going to see some potentially flash flooding and severe thunderstorms over the next couple of days, including some damaged fire areas,” Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville warned on Sunday.
While rain was welcome in the state it did come with dangers.
“Unfortunately coming in this massive amount in one go, quickly does cause some risk … both in how you capture most of that … and also debris run-off and the potential for fallen trees,” the emergency services minister said.
The dangerous conditions come as firefighters work to contain a blaze at French Island at Western Port which started on Saturday.
Story Credit: 7news.com.au
