source : the age
Thunderstorms and lightning have disrupted the first day of the Australian Open and drenched Melbourne with rain.
A storm cell crossed from western Victoria over the city about midday on Sunday.
Rain hits Melbourne Park on the first day of the Australian Open.Credit: Eddie Jim
The Bureau of Meteorology had forecast a top of 27 degrees in Melbourne with up to 20 millimetres of rain possible.
Possibly severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, large hail and heavy falls were predicted about the nearby hills in the afternoon and evening. However, no formal warning was active when a storm hit the CBD around midday.
A severe thunderstorm warning was eventually issued at 12.25pm for the Greater Melbourne area and parts of West and South Gippsland.
“Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding, damaging winds and large hailstones in the warning area over the next several hours,” the alert said.
Tennis fans scrambled for cover after play was suspended on the outside courts at Melbourne Park. The roof was closed at Rod Laver Arena, allowing play at the Australian Open to continue after a short delay.
In Geelong, another storm cell caused dozens of lightning strikes on Sunday morning, according to Weatherzone’s radar.
