Drivers stranded as floods sweep through Victoria and South Australia

Australia has been struck by severe weather as a 'supercell' storm caused widespread flooding and power outages. On Friday, October 18, 2024, Geelong experienced its worst rainfall since November 2011, with 67mm recorded. The storm led to nearly 600 calls for assistance to Victoria's State Emergency Service and left about 2,300 customers across South Australia and Victoria without power. Heavy rain also affected northern NSW, prompting power outages for over 660 customers. Heavy rainfall resulted in flash flooding in various regions, notably Geelong and Frankston in southeastern Melbourne, with significant rainfall recorded at Melbourne airport (37mm) and Mt Hotham (68mm) since Friday morning. Minor flood warnings are currently in effect for the Lower North Esk River in northeast Tasmania and the Queen River in northeast Victoria, illustrating the persistent effects of the storm throughout the affected regions. As recovery efforts begin, Mr. Hines from the Bureau of Meteorology noted that the immediate storm risk for the worst-hit areas has passed, although moderate winds and lingering showers are expected in certain parts of Victoria and New South Wales. The storm's impact follows an active week of thunderstorms across Australia, culminating in the severe conditions experienced on Friday, which was exacerbated by a low-pressure system moving across the southeast. Looking ahead, parts of Queensland face potential severe thunderstorms, indicating that the threat of severe weather is not yet over as the country continues to deal with the fallout from the storm.