Five states and territories are at risk of severe thunderstorms bringing hail, damaging winds and possible flash flooding as a strong cold front and low pressure system moves south.
Senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, Miriam Bradbury, said storms throughout multiple states had intensified through the afternoon and evening on Wednesday, with particularly severe weather in western Victoria.
Casterton in Horsham area experienced a supercell thunderstorm, bringing 22mm of rain in 20 minutes, strong and gusty winds up to 90km/h and hail up to the size of a tennis ball. A supercell thunderstorm is one step up from a severe thunderstorm.
A couple of stormy days ahead for Vic. Severe storms may develop about the NW later today, more likely about central parts & NE on Friday. Risk of damaging wind, heavy rain & large hail. Stay up-to-date with warnings if severe storms develop near you. https://t.co/UYVuRwgKlp pic.twitter.com/V4AQvjglLs
— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) October 17, 2024
Bradbury said there were widespread risks of thunderstorms through broad areas of South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia on Thursday as the strong cold front and low pressure system developed.
She said severe storms may lead to falling trees or branches, power outages, localised flash flooding and some property damage due to winds or hail. Driving conditions would be dangerous where water or debris fell over the roads.
South Australia would be the “focal point” for storms on Thursday, Bradbury said, with severe storms possible across most of the state, bringing damaging winds, large hail and heavy falls, or a combination of all three.
“A few coastal showers are possible, but storms are expected to remain west of the Great Dividing Range,” Bradbury said.
“Melbourne may see storms later on Thursday afternoon and evening, but at this stage, they’re not expected to become severe around the metro area.”
Severe weather warnings for damaging winds were in place for much of South Australia, excluding Adelaide, and for the Grampians and central ranges.
Further severe weather warnings were possible over the next 24 hours as the front moved through.
Bradbury said the warm, windy weather ahead of the cold front had triggered extreme fire dangers across the north-east, pastoral and Flinders districts of South Australia, with fire weather warnings in place. Extreme fire dangers were also continuing to affect the south interior of Western Australia.
Showers & thunderstorms across #SouthAustralia today, possibly severe. Very hot across the north, with gusty winds and extreme fire danger. Warnings current. Stay up-to-date: https://t.co/NZWuEwvO1h pic.twitter.com/sSt77nSqCv
— Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) October 16, 2024
“Damaging wind gusts are most likely in this severe weather warning area, but they may still occur outside of the warning with showers, and particularly with thunderstorms,” Bradbury said.
“The risk of storms will remain widespread in the east, from southern Queensland through New South Wales, Victoria and even into northern Tasmania … bringing the risk of damaging winds.
“Large hail and heavy rain are possible on Friday as the front moves through across inland New South Wales and much of Victoria, including Melbourne.”
The front was expected to move off the east coast on Saturday, with showers easing and broadly settled conditions through the weekend, Bradbury said.
