Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for North East and East Gippsland Districts in Victoria

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a TOP PRIORITY severe thunderstorm warning (IDV21033) for heavy rainfall. This alert is currently active for parts of the North East and East Gippsland Forecast Districts in Victoria.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers geographic regions within the North East and East Gippsland Forecast Districts. Residents in these areas should prepare for immediate weather impacts.

What You Should Do

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

• 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 safe by avoiding 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, trampolines, and outdoor furniture 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 indoor location immediately and stay away from drains, creeks, and waterways.
• Fire-Affected Areas: Be aware that rainfall run-off in fire-affected zones may contain ash, soil, and rocks. Heavy rain increases the risk of landslides and debris across roads.
• Stay Informed: Monitor weather updates via the Bureau of Meteorology and VicEmergency websites, apps, or hotlines.

Expected Conditions

A very moist and unstable airmass is currently producing thunderstorms across the northeast parts of the state. These severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours. In areas recently impacted by fire, heat, or previous storms, trees may be unstable and prone to falling in wet or windy conditions.

Timeline

The warning was officially issued at 12:10 pm AEDT on Wednesday, 25 February 2026. The current situation is expected to persist for several hours, with the next formal update from the Bureau of Meteorology scheduled for release by 3:10 pm.