Rain bomb to bring 80mm to drought stricken states
Melbourne was drenched as suburb of St Albans saw a month's worth of rain
Winds of up to 133 kmh battered the city, causing damage to several houses
Meanwhile, New South Wales is bracing for its biggest splash since early spring
BoM expects between 30 and 80mm of rain in the east of New South Wales
The first significant rain for months will fall on fire-ravaged parts of Australia today as a low pressure system sweeps across the east.
Downpours have already helped to extinguish 32 bushfires in New South Wales as the number of blazes fell from 120 to 88 on Thursday morning.
Between Thursday and Sunday, the Bureau of Meteorology expects between 30 and 80mm of rain in the east of NSW.
It means the end may be in sight for exhausted firefighters who have battled deadly fires for more than three months.
A total of 28 people have died in the horror blazes and more than 2,000 homes have been destroyed.
Peak-hour travellers are hit with a deluge of rain in Melbourne
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Five homes confirmed destroyed
Between 20mm and 40mm is also forecast in the ACT and the west of NSW where farmers have endured drought for three years.
Greater Sydney - including areas hit by bushfires - is forecast to get 3-8mm on Thursday, 8-20mm on Friday and 8-26mm on Saturday.
The rain will give firefighters some much-needed respite after months of battling ferocious blazes.
NSW Rural Fire Service Inspector Ben Shepherd said: 'It's the most positive forecast the RFS has had in months and will give crews a chance to regroup and work on containment lines.'
Rain has also hit Victoria.
Melbourne was drenched last night as the suburb of St Albans saw a month's worth of rain - 77mm - in just half an hour.
Winds of up to 133 kmh battered the city, causing damage to houses before the storm passed and warnings were lifted by first light.
In the fire-ravaged areas in the east of the state there is an 80 per cent chance of showers today as a slow moving low pressure trough lingers.
Significant rain has fallen in Victoria (pictured) and more is set to hit New South Wales today
The fire danger rating is at its lowest level, giving firefighters some much needed respite. Pictured: Wind and rain in Melbourne
However, there are concerns that thunderstorms could bring more bushfire trouble.
Lightning ignited fires in Victoria's eastern Great Otway National Park on Wednesday and authorities fear it could do the same in the fire-ravaged East Gippsland and north east regions.
Thunderstorms are also likely to produce damaging winds and carry large hail and heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued late evening on Wednesday for the north east, East Gippsland and parts of central Victoria.
'Thunderstorms, a bit of a two-edged sword. While they can bring some much useful rain, it can also come down in pretty fast, high quantities,' Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Kevin Parkyn said.
'There's high concentrations of ash, very vulnerable landscape when it comes to short bursts of heavy rainfall - which could see very quickly mudslides developing.'
Mr Park also expressed his concern about debris such as soil, trees and rocks making their way to the waterways from from the fire landscape.
A road water alert was also in place for Melbourne on Wednesday evening, after some western suburbs like St Albans saw up to 77mm of sudden rain.
The rain helped clear the hazardous bushfire smoke blanketing the city on Wednesday, which had caused the closure of a runway at Melbourne Airport and some flights delayed.
There were 19 active fires across Victoria on Wednesday evening by 10pm, with eight 'Watch and Act' alerts in place.
Queensland will also see major rainfall between Brisbane and Mackay which is expected to add up to 100mm.
In New South Wales, firefighters celebrate the arrival of the first rain.
Late on Wednesday the RFS tweeted: 'Some rainfall has started falling across a number of firegrounds. We have everything crossed hoping for some good falls across these areas over the coming days.'
A Rural Fire Service firefighter Trevor Stewart views a flank of a fire on January 11, 2020 in Tumburumba
Areas around the South Coast and Southern Tablelands are predicted to receive up to 30mm but the Bureau of Meteorology says the rain will be patchy and exact falls are difficult to predict.
The NSW SES says this could bring on the risk of flash flooding, falling trees and landslips after fire wiped out trees and growth.
'While the rain is welcomed, heavy rainfall and storms in fire affected areas can lead to dangerous conditions such as a higher risk of flash flooding, falling trees and landslips,' NSW SES assistant commissioner Paul Bailey said.
'In areas impacted by fires where vegetation has been destroyed, water from heavy rainfall can flow into riverbeds and we could see run-off in areas we wouldn't normally, resulting in flash flooding.
'The NSW SES is also asking residents in fire affected areas to watch for possible landslips as the ground and roads can be damaged, therefore creating a higher risk of a potential slip.'
The SES warned residents to prepare their properties but trimming overhanging branches, cleaning gutters and pipes, securing loose items in their backyards and not parking under trees or powerlines. .
2019/2020 FIRE SEASON DEATH TOLL
The national death toll in Australia's 2019/2020 bushfire season was 28 as of Wednesday January 15, with 20 confirmed deaths in New South Wales, three in South Australia and five in Victoria.
OCTOBER
New South Wales:
Robert Lindsey, 77, and Gwen Hyde, 68, were found in their burned out Coongbar home near Casino on October 9th.
NOVEMBER
New South Wales:
The body of 85-year-old George Nole was found in a burnt out car near his home in Wytaliba, near Glen Innes.
Vivian Chaplain, a 69-year-old woman from Wytaliba, succumbed to her injuries in hospital after attempting in vain to save her home and animals from the blaze.
The body of 63-year-old Julie Fletcher was pulled from a scorched building in Johns River, north of Taree.
Barry Parsons, 58, was found in a shed at Willawarrin, near Kempsey.
Chris Savva, 64, died after his 4WD overturned near burnt-out South Arm bridge, near Nambucca Heads.
A 59-year-old man was founded sheltered in a Yarrowitch water tank on November 7. He died of injuries on December 29.
Victoria:
David Moresi, 69, died after being involved in a traffic incident while working at the at the Gelantipy fire in East Gippsland on November 30.
DECEMBER
New South Wales:
Firefighters Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, and Geoffrey Keaton, 32, died on December 19 after a tree fell on their truck while they were travelling through Buxton, south of Sydney.
Samuel McPaul, 28, was battling a blaze in Jingellic, in Green Valley, about 70km east of Albury on the border of NSW and Victoria, on December 30 when a 'fire tornado' caused his 10-tonne firetruck to roll.
South Australia:
The body of 69-year-old Ron Selth was found in his Charleston home, which was destroyed by the Cudlee Creek blaze on December 21.
NEW YEAR'S EVE FIRES
New South Wales:
Dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, died trying to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega, on December 31.
A 70-year-old man, named by local media as Laurie Andrew, was found dead outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola.
The body of a 70-year-old man was found in a burnt vehicle on a road off the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah on the morning of New Year's Day.
The body of a 62-year-old man was found in a vehicle on Wandra Road at Sussex Inlet about 11.30am on New Year's Day.
A body, believed to be a 56-year-old man, found outside a home at Coolagolite, east of Cobargo on New Year's Day.
An off-duty RFS firefighter, believed to be 72-year-old Colin Burns, was found near a car in Belowra after the New Year's Eve fires swept through.
Victoria:
Beloved great-grandfather Mick Roberts, 67, from Buchan, in East Gippsland, was found dead at his home on the morning of New Year's Day.
Fred Becker, 75, was the second person to die in Victoria. He suffered a heart attack while trying to defend his Maramingo Creek home.
JANUARY
New South Wales:
David Harrison, a 47-year-old man from Canberra, suffered a heart attack defending his friend's home near Batlow on Saturday, January 4.
A 71-year-old man was found on January 6. Police have been told the man was last sighted on December 31, 2019 and was moving equipment on his property in Nerrigundah.
Victoria:
Forest Fire Management firefighter Mat Kavanagh, 43, was killed Friday January 3 when he was involved in a two-car crash on the Goulburn Valley Highway.
Bill Slade, a 60-year-old father of two from Wonthaggi was fighting fires with Parks Victoria at Omeo when he died on January 11. He has been remembered as one of the longest serving, most experienced and fittest firefighters.
South Australia:
Well-known outback pilot Dick Lang, 78, and his 43-year-old son, Adelaide surgeon Clayton Lang, died in the Kangaroo Island bushfire after their car was trapped by flames.
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