WANGARATTA has been lashed by destructive winds overnight, recording its highest September peak gusts in almost 20 years as wild winds batter the state.
Peak gusts of 98km/h were recorded at Wangaratta’s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) Airport station at 4:52am Monday morning, with BOM forecasts predicting the damaging winds to remain throughout the region on Monday.
According to BOM records, the 98km/h gusts was the highest recorded in Wangaratta for the month of September in 17 years and the strongest since 104km/h was recorded on January 2 this year.
The devastating winds have seen some 4100 homes in the Wangaratta region without power as of 9am Monday morning.
According to AusNet’s outage tracker, the outage recorded on Greta Road was first reported at 4:43am Monday morning and is affecting homes south of the rural city from Moyhu to Winton, Glenrowan, Mount Bruno, Boweya and more.
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A further 476 properties in the Moyhu and King Valley area were reportedly without power as of 11am Monday morning.
An updated severe weather warning was issued early on Monday morning with damaging and destructive winds expected to continue to impact a majority of the state across Monday afternoon.
Wangaratta SES sent a post on the Wangaratta Community Noticeboard on Facebook, urging people to remain patient while crews respond to multiple requests for assistance throughout the region.
“Our amazing volunteers are responding but their response could be delayed,” the post read.
“We are aware multiple trees down over roads, building and vehicles.
“Many homes without power, winds are expected to remain until later today.
“Please be patient and drive to the conditions.”
An AusNet spokesperson said around 112,000 people in the state were without power on Monday morning.
“We have crews in the field currently assessing the damage,” they said.
“The weather is still affecting the network and it is very hazardous, so this may take a little longer than usual.
“We will update estimated restoration times on our outage tracker once we've made damage assessments.
“In terms of the power coming back on, some of these may take longer than 24 hours, particularly in more remote areas.
“We urge people to keep away from any fallen or damaged powerlines and assume any wires are live.”
BOM reported a strong cold front over central Victoria to the east of Melbourne would continue to move rapidly eastwards Monday.
“The strength of these winds aloft, combined with scattered lines of showers and a few thunderstorms will continue to bring damaging winds to parts of the state today,” BOM's severe weather warning read.
“Conditions are expected to gradually ease throughout the state during late afternoon and evening today.”
Monitor weather warnings, forecasts and river levels at the Bureau of Meteorology website, and warnings through VicEmergency website/app/hotline.
If you're in immediate danger, call 000.
Report new faults and emergencies online www.ausnetservices.com.au/outages/report-a-fault or on 13 17 99.
For emergency services, call the SES on 13 25 00.
