Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Heavy Rainfall for Mallee and Northern Country

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a “Top Priority” severe thunderstorm warning (IDV21033) for heavy rainfall. The alert is currently active for residents in parts of the Mallee and Northern Country Forecast Districts in Victoria.

Affected Areas

The warning covers specific regions within the Mallee and Northern Country districts. Locations that may be impacted by these storms include:

• Swan Hill
• Ouyen
• Kerang
• Walpeup
• Birchip

What You Should Do

The State Emergency Service (SES) advises residents to take the following safety precautions:

• Driving Safety: If driving conditions become dangerous, safely pull over away from trees, drains, low-lying areas, and floodwater. Avoid travel if possible.
• Hazard Avoidance: Stay away from floodwater, mud, debris, damaged roads, and fallen trees. Stay away from fallen powerlines and assume they are live.
• Secure Property: Ensure loose outdoor items, such as umbrellas and trampolines, are secured. Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
• Seek Shelter: Stay indoors and away from windows. If caught outdoors, move to a safe place inside and stay away from drains, gutters, creeks, and waterways.
• Fire-Affected Areas: Be aware that rainfall run-off may contain debris such as ash, soil, and rocks. Heavy rainfall may increase the potential for landslides.

Expected Conditions

A humid airmass is currently combining with a slow-moving trough of low pressure to generate severe thunderstorms. These storms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours.

Timeline

The warning was issued at 3:19 pm local time on Tuesday, 24 February 2026. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 6:20 pm. Residents are encouraged to monitor local radio and TV broadcasts or check the VicEmergency website for further updates.