Victorian authorities defend timing of Surf Coast flash‑flood warnings after heavy downpour

Authorities have defended the timing of warnings for holidaymakers along Victoria’s Surf Coast after an “unprecedented” downpour on Thursday, as forecasters warned Sydney to expect a very wet weekend. Weatherzone predicted up to 20mm of rain in Sydney on both Saturday and Sunday, which the outlet said would be a record for the time of year.

The Surf Coast received more than 180mm of rain in about six hours, Emergency Management Victoria said, causing flash flooding of the Wye, Kennett and Cumberland rivers. About 186.2mm fell in the 24 hours to 9am at Lorne, the bureau reported, surpassing the previous one‑day record of 123.2mm.

The deluge washed about 20 cars into the ocean, flooded campgrounds at Wye River and temporarily displaced about 600 people, with 60 needing emergency accommodation. Emergency Management Victoria said more than 10,000 people received text alerts to go to higher ground, and the bureau said a severe thunderstorm warning was first issued at 11.57am and escalated at 12.40pm as rainfall rates climbed.

Local officials were split: the Colac mayor questioned how such rainfall could not have been predicted, while the state’s emergency management commissioner said warnings were “adequate … and as timely as they could be”.

Key Topics

World, Emergency Management Victoria, Surf Coast, Lorne, Wye River, Flash Flooding