Rain drenches Shepparton as severe thunderstorm hits northern Victoria

By Djembe Archibald

Jan 3, 2024

Rolling in: Turnbull Rd, Ardmona. Photo: Shelli Sinc

More than 50mm of rain was recorded at Shepparton Airport in an hour, as a massive storm rolled through northern Victoria this week.

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.