Emergency Crews Make Most of Brief Reprieve in Wild Weather

Emergency crews are making use of a brief break in wild weather across Australia’s east coast to conduct clean-ups and warn some communities of potential flooding in the aftermath.
It was a brutal start to spring as destructive winds battered Australia’s east coast, claiming the life of a 63-year-old woman at a holiday park in Moama on the New South Wales (NSW)-Victoria border.
Weather events and strong winds across parts of NSW, Victoria, and Tasmania were deemed equivalent to a category one or two cyclone.
In a statement on Sept. 3, Tasmania State Emergency Service said crews had responded to 277 requests for assistance overnight and that 20 warnings remained active for Derwent River, Meadowbank to Macquarie Plains, and Styx River, Bushy Park to Macquarie Plains and surrounds.
Properties in the region of the Derwent River, Meadowbank to Macquarie Plains and Styx River, Bushy Park to Macquarie Plains and surrounds continue to face a significant risk of flooding and it is likely roads and properties will become inundated by floodwaters and become inaccessible, the State Emergency Service (SES) warned.
Victoria’s SES released a statement on Aug. 3 announcing 29 crew from NSW had landed in Victoria to help relieve volunteers.
In recent days, NSW SES responded to more than 500 incidents across affected parts of the state.
And while crews are making the most of a brief reprieve, meteorologists say there could be further intense but less severe weather on the way.
“Winds will be much lighter, showers will contract mostly away from land areas and we will see cooler temperatures,” Meteorologist Helen Reed said on Aug. 3.
“The rest of the week will see windy conditions return for some areas, but will not be as severe as we’ve seen recently.”
The recent weather events left more than 120,000 Victorians without power, with 660 homes damaged by severe winds and high tides.
A Dandenong Ranges home was destroyed in Victoria.
Graziers across the impacted states were warned by the weather bureau that cold and windy weather could lead to the loss of sheep flocks.
Marine wind warnings remain in place for Victoria.
As of Sept. 3, a minor flood warning remained active for the Lachlan River in NSW, along with a warning of severe weather and damaging surf on Lord Howe Island.
Queenslanders have also been warned of strong marine winds.
In a statement at 10 a.m. on Sept. 3, the weather bureau warned of strong winds for the Peninsula Coast, Cooktown Coast, Cairns Coast, Townsville Coast, Mackay Coast, Capricornia Coast, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island Coast, Sunshine Coast Waters, Moreton Bay, and Gold Coast Waters.
People in affected areas are urged to pay attention to weather updates and never to drive in floodwaters.