Storms and severe weather
Storms and severe weather are a risk for Surf Coast Shire. Storms and severe weather can block roads, damage houses and farms and cause utility outages.
Storms can also concentrate grass pollens and lead to thunderstorm asthma events.
The Victorian State Emergency Service (VICSES) is the lead for this emergency for the Surf Coast.
Why are storms and severe weather a risk?
Severe weather includes damaging winds, heavy rain, hail, lightning and, occasionally, tornadoes. It can bring down trees and powerlines, damage buildings, trigger flash flooding.
Our heavily forested landscape makes us especially vulnerable to high winds, which can turn trees and branches into dangerous flying debris and block roads. Heavy rain can overwhelm gutters and make roads slippery, and hail can damage vehicles and agricultural crops. Visitors are often most at risk during a storm, because they may not realise the danger of camping under large trees in high winds.
Thunderstorm asthma
Thunderstorm asthma is a type of emergency that can occur when there is a lot of grass pollen in the air and a specific type of thunderstorm. Grass pollens are concentrated in the wind gusts and can rapidly trigger asthma symptoms, even in those who have never had asthma before. The grass pollen season usually runs from October to December, and it is in this period that thunderstorm asthma is a risk.
Who and what is most at risk?
- Properties near large trees, and homes with older roofs or structures
- People outdoors, camping, on the water, or driving during a storm
- Power, telecommunications and transport networks
- Anyone who relies on power for medical equipment
- Anyone with current, past or undiagnosed asthma or springtime hay fever