News
Rain drenches Shepparton as severe thunderstorm hits northern Victoria
More than 50mm of rain was recorded at Shepparton Airport in an hour, as a massive storm rolled through northern Victoria this week.
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The storm saw dozens of power outages reported to Powercor, and some Euroa residents were still left in darkness on Wednesday, January 3.
Powercor announced at 12.30pm on Wednesday, January 3 that crews from across the state have arrived to assist local crews with power restoration in the hardest hit areas, following storm damage on Tuesday.
More than 90,000 lightning strikes were recorded across the Powercor network over the past 24 hours, with significant damage to electricity infrastructure in Shepparton, Echuca and Cobram areas.
Crews will work across 380 faults, most caused by lightning, that left 2400 customers without power.
Many customers are expected to have power restored throughout the afternoon and evening, but Powercor said that given the volume of faults and damage caused to parts of the network, particularly in northern Victoria, it’s likely that some customers will remain without power overnight.
Shepparton Search and Rescue president Nacole Stanfield said that there were 14 volunteers responding to 30 calls during the storm.
“We were all across Shepparton, mostly helping with property damage,” she said.
“A lot of open windows and skylights letting water into buildings.”
Ms Stanfield also said that the hail had cracked skylights which led to the rain getting into houses.
SES Tatura unit controller Bec Gould said that there were five volunteers responding to six jobs across Tatura and Mooroopna.
“We had two groups spread out across Shepparton and Mooroopna,” she said.
“Mainly dealing with flash flooding across roads but also building damage.”
SES Euroa unit controller Georgie Cardillo said they were called out to 50 reports during the storm, with the 15 volunteers attending scenes from early Tuesday morning through until midnight.
Power outages during the storm left the team with no reception or power.
The majority of their call outs were trees on powerlines and building damage.
Fire Rescue Victoria was also called out to a fire in Lemnos on Tuesday, January 2.
The fire is believed to have been started by a lightning strike and meant one hay bale, and its 60m by 15m area of surrounding paddock, caught alight.
The News understands up to 10 or 15 fruit growers in the Ardmona, Tatura and Merrigum areas may have sustained hail damage to their crops.
Member for Northern Victoria region Wendy Lovell called on the state government to provide assistance to affected growers.
“This is the second year in a row growers have sustained damage, and nothing was done to support them last year.”
Ms Lovell said growers had invested heavily in the crops now maturing and it was devastating to have such damage caused by one event.
During the 24 hours following 9am on Tuesday, January 2, Shepparton Airport recorded a total of 78.4mm of rainfall.
There is a 30 per cent chance of rain in Shepparton for the rest of Wednesday.
Statistics from the Bureau of Meteorology
Rainfall - 24 hours to 9am Wednesday, January 3
- 29mm was recorded in 30 minutes at Kyabram
- 19.6mm was recorded in 60 minutes at Tatura
- 53mm was recorded in 60 minutes at Shepparton Airport
- 51mm was recorded in 60 minute at Benalla
Wind speed and gust
- Kyabram recorded a gust of 78km/h at 5.12pm
- Tatura recorded a gust of 59km/h at 5pm
- Shepparton Airport recorded a gust of 82km/h at 5pm
Galleries
Kialla
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Sanctuary Estate, Kialla by Amy Cooper.Image 2 of 6
Wendouree Dve, Kialla by Leah Caroline.Image 3 of 6
Thunder storm over Kialla by Michelle Densworth.Image 4 of 6
Sanctuary Dve Kialla by Vivien Florence.Image 5 of 6
Kialla West by Chelsea Jack.Image 6 of 6
Wendouree Dve, Kialla by Ellesha Ellis.Shepparton
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Plane St, Shepparton.Image 2 of 14
Shepparton.Image 3 of 14
Parkside Dve, Shepparton. Photo: Monique PrestonImage 4 of 14
Clive St, Shepparton by Wendy Baldwin.Image 5 of 14
Bradford Rd, Shepparton by Krysten Turner.Image 6 of 14
Clouds rolling over Shepparton North by Di Tripoli.Image 7 of 14
Off-leash dog park, Shepparton by Huss Ain.Image 8 of 14
Shepparton-Barmah Rd by Kaitlyn Jane.Image 9 of 14
Intersection of New Dookie Rd and Drummond Rd, Shepparton by Christine Anderson.Image 10 of 14
Dutton Way, Shepparton by Rodney Sinclair.Image 11 of 14
Dog park, Shepparton by Mohammed Alsafe.Image 12 of 14
Fryers St, alongside the Shepparton Showgrounds by Christine Anderson.Image 13 of 14
Clouds rolling over Shepparton by Roy Argaet.Image 14 of 14
Kai Dryden, 6, outside his home in McEwen St Shepparton.Mooroopna
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Echuca Rd, Mooroopna by Jacqui Kiss.Image 2 of 7
Mooroopna by Chach Petnamkhang.Image 3 of 7
Mooroopna North towards Merrigum by Luke Commisso.Image 4 of 7
Joseph St, Mooroopna by Lynette Anglinskas.Image 5 of 7
Corner of Gange St and Macisaac Rd, Mooroopna by Jasmeen Sidhu.Image 6 of 7
Larsen St, Mooroopna by Maree Mcardle.Image 7 of 7
Storm rolling over Mooroopna by Kelly Mackay.Tatura
Kyabram
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