The Greensborough rain gauge recorded 92mm of rainfall over a two-hour period. The storm was relentless, causing flash flooding that transformed streets into rivers and left a trail of destruction across the community.
Massive hailstones amplify destruction
Massive hailstones wreaked havoc on homes, cars, and streets: clogging gutters and drains, and amplifying the impact of the downpour that followed. One resident recalled the chaos, “Suddenly tennis ball-sized hailstones came crashing down... it just destroyed the whole car.”
The storm wasn’t selective in its destruction. Roads were washed out, fences collapsed, and homes were flooded.
- In Grove Street in Eltham, properties were inundated as raging torrents swept through backyards and homes
- On Weidlich Road in St Helena, parked cars were picked up and tossed around by the floodwaters
- Main Road in Eltham near Cecil Street was completely submerged, with floodwaters reaching up to 2 metres. A local fire truck struggled, windscreen wipers at full speed as floodwaters reached the top of the cab.
- Several sections of the Hurstbridge rail line were severely destabilised, cancelling train services and disrupting travel plans
- At Valonia Drive, one eyewitness described seeing a council wheelie bin floating down the street, which they likened to a fast-flowing creek carrying everything in its path.
Attempts to navigate the flooded streets proved dangerous. The VICSES issued a strong warning, noting that water across roads can hide hazards like potholes and dangerous debris. They strongly recommend against driving through floodwater, given that even 15cm of slow-moving water can lift a vehicle, posing life-threatening risks.
A lingering financial and emotional toll
For some residents, the swift action of sweeping water away from doorways was the only thing that prevented their homes from being damaged by the flood. “We were lucky to be home or else we would have been flooded, as three of us were madly sweeping the water away from the backdoor.”
In the storm’s aftermath, VICSES volunteers worked tirelessly for two days, responding to over 3,000 distress calls. Residents began grappling with the financial and emotional toll, as insurance companies were inundated with enquiries.
By Boxing Day, over 1,000 claims had already been filed, highlighting the widespread devastation caused by the storm. “Many Victorians will be feeling the hangover from the Christmas storms for some time,” one official noted.
