Heavy rain and powerful storms are sweeping multiple states just a day after Australians were told a warm, dry El Nino was more likely than ever to develop this winter.
Upwards of 75,000 lightning strikes were recorded around Adelaide overnight during a vicious storm, while flash flooding has prompted a warning in Victoria.
Victoria’s south-west is experiencing heavy rainfall and damaging winds, with a watch and act alert issued for flash flooding in Halls Gap.
South Australia is also set to be hit with severe thunderstorms, while Queensland is expecting strong winds, but clear skies.
Parts of Victoria have been issued a Severe Weather warning, with heavy rainfall and strong winds expected in the North Central, North East and parts of Central, East Gippsland, Mallee, South West, Northern Country, West and South Gippsland and Wimmera Forecast Districts.
Flash flooding is possible for the Malle, Wimmera and South West Districts on Wednesday morning.
Car catches on fire after being struck by lightning
Up to 60mm of rain is expected within 24 hours, with some isolated extreme rainfall reaching up to 100mm in some areas.
The state will also be hit with damaging northerly wind gusts of 90-100km/h over the Grampians during the morning, moving into the central ranges by the afternoon.
Damaging wind gusts could possibly affect the alpine areas as well.
Read Related Also: Bartise Bowden reveals when he actually conceived son while filming ‘Love Is Blind’, ‘Perfect Match’
Severe thunderstorms are also possible across western Victoria this afternoon.
South Australia lashed by storms
Severe weather has also unleashed on South Australia, with over 75,000 lightning strikes recorded across Adelaide overnight.
Parts of Riverland, Murraylands, Upper South East and Lower South East districts were issued with a severe weather warning last night.
The weather warning was cancelled for the Mid-North and Riverland districts but it remains in the Meningie, Tailem Bend and Coonalpyn areas.
Flash flooding is expected today in these areas as a slow-moving cold front moves over the state.
Overnight, some areas were soaked with quick bouts of rain.
Morphettville saw 29mm of rain in one hour at 3.45am.
Sturt Creek recorded 20mm of rain in 30 minutes, while Bellevue Heights recorded 10mm in the same time span.
Sever Strom warnings have been cancelled in the Adelaide Metropolitan, Mount Lofty Ranges, Upper South East and North East Pastoral districts areas.
Tasmania may also experience strong winds in the Far North West Coast, East of Flinders Island, Upper East Coast, Lower East Coast, South East Coast and Central West Coast regions on Wednesday and Thursday.
Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.
