March 2010 Victoria storms

The 2010 Victorian storms were a series of storms that passed through much of the Australian state of Victoria on 6 and 7 March 2010. One of the most severe storms passed directly over Greater Melbourne, bringing lightning, flash flooding, very large hail and strong winds to the state's capital.^[1][2]

The larger of the storms brought heavy rain and large hail, which led to flash flooding, disrupting transport in central Melbourne and central Victoria throughout the weekend. Many residential buildings were damaged, most due to hail and heavy rain. Some major buildings were evacuated including Flinders Street and Southern Cross stations, several major shopping centres, civic buildings and Docklands Stadium.^[3] The storms occurred during the Victorian Labour Day long weekend and affected a number of sporting events and festivals, many of which were postponed or cancelled. On average, hail was between 2 centimetres (0.79 in) and 5 centimetres (2.0 in),^[4] while at Ferntree Gully in Melbourne's east, hail of up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) was reported.^[5]

During the weekend of 6 and 7 March, Melbourne experienced 61 millimetres (2.4 in) of rainfall, more than the entire March average of 50 millimetres (2.0 in). Twenty people were treated by paramedics for hail-related injuries at the Moomba Festival, and many more people suffered minor hail-induced injuries of cuts and bruises. At least 50 families, likely many more, were relocated to temporary accommodation. Extensive storms and flash flooding also affected Melbourne only weeks beforehand on 11 February 2010 and on 31 December 2009, while fellow capital city Perth suffered a similar fate on 22 March 2010. As soon as the city recovered, another flash flood affected the Melbourne metropolitan area three weeks later on the morning of 29 March.^[6]