Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Heavy Rainfall in East Gippsland and North East Victoria

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning (IDV21033) for heavy rainfall. This alert is classified as a top priority for immediate broadcast and was issued at 2:51 pm AEDT on Sunday, 22 February 2026.

Affected Areas

The warning covers parts of the East Gippsland and North East Forecast Districts in Victoria. Specific locations that may be impacted by these storms include Wodonga and Corryong.

What You Should Do

The State Emergency Service (SES) advises residents in the warning area to take the following actions:

• Driving Safety: If driving conditions are dangerous, safely pull over away from trees, drains, low-lying areas, and floodwater. Avoid travel if possible.
• Indoor Safety: Stay indoors and away from windows. If you are outdoors, move to a safe place inside and stay away from trees, drains, gutters, creeks, and waterways.
• Property Preparation: Check that loose items, such as outdoor settings, umbrellas, and trampolines, are safely secured. Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
• Hazard Awareness: Stay away from fallen powerlines and always assume they are live. In fire-affected areas, be aware that rainfall run-off may contain debris such as ash, soil, and rocks, increasing the potential for landslides.

Expected Conditions

A trough and a cold front are moving through the northeastern parts of Victoria this afternoon. These systems are interacting with a very humid airmass to generate severe thunderstorms. The primary hazard is heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours.

Timeline

The warning was issued at 2:51 pm on Sunday, 22 February 2026. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 5:55 pm. Residents should monitor the VicEmergency website or app and the Bureau’s website for further developments.