Overview
- Nearly 180mm fell at Mt Cowley in under six hours, sending sudden surges through small catchments that swept cars and caravans into the sea at Wye River, Kennett River, Cumberland River and Lorne.
- Emergency warnings were downgraded overnight, but relief centres in Lorne and Apollo Bay remain open and officials caution about floodwater, mud, debris, damaged roads, fallen trees and landslip risk.
- Transport authorities have closed the Great Ocean Road between Lorne and Skenes Creek, with traffic control points in place and V/Line coaches detouring inland.
- SES reported more than 160 requests for help and multiple flood rescues, with about 1500 people evacuated from the Wye River caravan park and no confirmed serious injuries or missing persons in official updates.
- BoM and hydrology experts cited extremely high atmospheric moisture and the rapid response of small Otway catchments as reasons warnings were limited, as crews now pivot to clean-up while NSW’s south coast braces for further heavy rain and hazardous surf.