Weather

Intense rain triggers flash flooding in Junee

Published

3 months ago

February 10, 2025

JUNEE was lashed with lightning, peppered with hail and drenched with up to two months’ worth of rain in eight hours overnight, as a series of savage thunderstorms swept the Shire.

The first storm struck just after midnight, lasting 30 minutes as it impacted Old Junee and Junee, before a significantly larger system engulfed the region about 1:20 am.

Heavy rain and intermittent hail persisted for 90 minutes before a third storm pushed through the township about 3:30 am, extending the deluge well into the early morning hours.

Residents were jolted from their beds, as hundreds of lightning bolts touched down in and around the Junee township, lighting up the sky until dawn.

Widespread rainfall accumulations of 60 to 80 mm of rain were recorded across the Junee Shire in the eight hours between midnight and 8 am.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, 58 mm fell in its gauge at the Junee Treatment Works.

The town’s long-term average rainfall for February is 40 mm.

The intense rainfall triggered areas of flash flooding throughout the town, with water surging through streets from Hill Street to Park Lane.

Flooding also damaged a large number of classrooms at Junee High School, with the school to remain closed on Monday.

The town’s stormwater system was overwhelmed in several areas, causing water to rise over numerous local roads.

Regent Street resembled a rapid during the peak of the downpour, while parts of Main Street were awash with mud and debris.

The rail underpass was submerged, the swale designed to protect the Junee Multipurpose Service was raging, and storm drains struggled to cope with the influx as water levels surged.

Fortunately, the water receded as swiftly as it rose, leaving behind a muddy mess.

Elsewhere, Ganmain was hit by a hailstorm just after 9:30 pm, with small hailstones and heavy rain lashing the village for more than 30 minutes.

The Bureau of Meteorology had warned Sunday afternoon that thunderstorms were likely to persist into the night, due to the interaction between a surface and upper trough in moisture-laden atmosphere.

A severe thunderstorm warning remained current for the region at the time of publication as a fourth storm closed in on Junee from the west.

The weather bureau warned large hailstones, heavy rainfall, flash flooding and damaging winds would again be likely.