Wednesday, August 28, 2024 A tragic incident occurred in western Victoria’s Gellibrand, where a man lost his life, and a woman was critically injured after their car was crushed by a tree toppled by fierce winds. The emergency services, despite their best efforts, were unable to save the male driver, who died at the scene. His female passenger was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition.
This incident was part of a broader pattern of wild weather that wreaked havoc across southern Australia, with more than 1000 emergency call-outs reported across multiple states. The State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers, along with other emergency services and local councils, have been working tirelessly to clear fallen trees from roads, buildings, and properties. Tim Wiebusch, the chief operations officer, emphasized the relentless efforts of the emergency teams to manage the situation, even as conditions were expected to ease on Wednesday night.
However, there was concern that winter gales could persist into early spring, potentially prolonging the emergency response efforts. In Victoria alone, SES volunteers responded to over 1000 calls for assistance within 24 hours, with 800 of those related to fallen trees. The damage was most concentrated in Victoria’s southeast and parts of Melbourne, where abnormally high tides and dangerous surf were expected to continue around the southwest coast, Gippsland, and Port Phillip Bay.
These conditions posed a risk of flooding in surf beach car parks and other low-lying areas. The severe weather also had significant implications for travel and tourism in the affected regions. In New South Wales (NSW), emergency services reported damaging gusts of more than 110km/h, impacting areas such as the Illawarra, South Coast, Snowy Mountains, Blue Mountains, and parts of Sydney.
By 3 pm, SES crews had responded to 535 incidents across the state, with the Illawarra and metropolitan Sydney being the most affected. The NSW Rural Fire Service was simultaneously responding to 27 fires statewide, adding to the challenges posed by the extreme weather conditions. The wild weather extended to the nation’s west, where Western Australia’s (WA) Department of Fire and Emergency Services issued a “Prepare Now” alert for parts of the south and southwest coast, indicating the potential for further disruptions.
In Victoria, wind gusts reached 135km/h at Wilsons Promontory on the state’s southeast tip and 128km/h at Mount Buller. These extreme wind speeds not only posed immediate dangers but also raised concerns about ongoing travel disruptions, particularly for those traveling by road or rail in the affected areas. The Bureau of Meteorology’s senior meteorologist, Kevin Parkin, warned that while conditions were expected to ease temporarily on Wednesday night, there was still a significant risk of severe weather continuing into the following week.
A low-pressure system tracking across Tasmania on Monday could bring similar gusts to those experienced during the current weather event, suggesting that the wild weather could persist. For the travel industry, these severe weather events have broad implications. The disruptions caused by fallen trees, high winds, and flooding can lead to delays and cancellations of travel plans, impacting both domestic and international tourists.
Additionally, the ongoing risks of winter gales and extreme weather conditions may deter potential visitors from planning trips to the affected regions, resulting in economic losses for local businesses and tourism operators. Key Points: The severe weather conditions in southern Australia have not only led to tragic incidents and widespread damage but also have significant implications for the travel industry. As emergency services continue to respond to the situation, the ongoing risk of winter gales and extreme weather conditions may lead to prolonged travel disruptions and economic impacts on tourism.
Travelers and industry stakeholders alike will need to remain vigilant and prepared for the challenges posed by these unpredictable weather patterns..
