By Stefan Bradley, Zoe Askew, Ben McArthur and Liam Durkin
There was no let-off for Wellington Shire residents this week, as both ends of extreme weather events hit.
Bushfire season came early, with blazes starting in Briagolong and Loch Sport over the weekend.
As if that wasn’t enough, floods then swept through on Tuesday, leaving most of the region inundated.
Rain was persistent on Wednesday, leaving roads closed and damaged.
An emergency warning was issued on Wednesday evening for parts of Tinamba, Tinamba West and Newry to evacuate immediately.
As of yesterday, the SEC reported major flooding was occurring along the Macalister River downstream of Lake Glenmaggie.
The Macalister River downstream of Lake Glenmaggie peaked at 6.96 metres around 1.30am on Thursday.
The Macalister River downstream of Lake Glenmaggie is expected to slowly ease but remain above the major flood level (5.30m) due to planned releases from Lake Glenmaggie.
Locals experienced the full force, and full diversity, of Gippsland weather, with some areas recording up to 100 millimetres of rainfall in just one day.
Sale set a new October record for rain on Tuesday.
Sale received 100mm of rain between 10am Tuesday and 9am Wednesday, with 58mm overnight alone.
From 10am Wednesday to 9am Thursday, 27mm was recorded.
Things started to clear up yesterday, while today (October 6) is expected to be partly cloudy with a small shower or two.
Bureau of Meteorology Senior Meteorologist Michael Efron said the worst of the weather was over for now.
“It’s still gonna be a possible shower on Friday,” he told the Gippsland Times on October 4.
“I doubt it will be completely dry, but I think there may be a millimetre or less on Friday.”
Mr Efron also said the Tuesday to Wednesday downpour broke multiple Gippsland October records, with data dating back 81 years.
Sale experienced its wettest October day on Tuesday, October 3, surpassing the previous record of 75.7mm in 1950.
Latrobe Valley also experienced its wettest October day on Tuesday, recording 97mm of rainfall, breaking the previous 2021 record of 42 millimetres.
The flooding has seriously deteriorated roads between Traralgon and Sale, with some potholes on the Princes Highway resembling craters.
In Sale, local sporting grounds look more like lakes, with the surface water expected to take days to drain.
At time of going to press (Thursday morning), the bushfire at Duffy Road, Briagolong was not yet under control, although Tuesday’s emergency bushfire warning has been downgraded to advice, with emergency services urging residents in the Cobbannah, Culloden, Fernbank, Glenaladale, Iguana Creek, Lindenow South, Moornapa, Munro, Stockdale, Walpa and Woodglen regions to stay informed.
The heavy, widespread rainfall provided relief for firefighters, with the change in weather significantly slowing the spread of the fire; however, there was still burning logs and trees in the area.
Firefighters continued to monitor the blaze yesterday and are expected to continue work in the area in the following weeks.
Residents who evacuated were able to obtain permits to access private property from the Briagolong Police Station.
Freestone Creek Rd at Valencia Creek Rd, Valencia Creek Rd at Marathon Rd, Fernbank-Glenaladale Rd at Princes Highway and Stockdale Rd at Briagolong-Stockdale Rd remained closed at the time of print.
Wellington Shire has set up an Emergency Relief Centre at the Gippsland Sports Regional Sports Complex (116 Cobains Rd, Sale).
