Hailstorms batter Melbourne, Australia.
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Saturday, March 06, 2010
A severe thunderstorm dumped hail and rain on the eastern Australian city of Melbourne on Saturday.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the storm blanketed roads with hail and brought an inch (2.5 centimeters) of rain in less than an hour.Hailstorms delayed sporting events, shut down transportation and forced the evacuation of a train station when the storm tore a hole in its roof.
Victoria's State Emergency Service has received more than 3,000 calls for help as the storm - with hail the size of tennis balls and winds of more than 100kph - caused widespread damage.Roads were under water and emergency services could not keep up with reports of flooding and damage. In the city center, water was nearly knee deep in some streets and shopping centers were cleared out.
In Queensland, rural communities that were inundated by floodwaters all week were bracing for more floods as their rivers rose. Queensland declared a state of emergency and made emergency funds available for the communities.
The Balonne River in St. George was expected to peak Saturday or Sunday at 44 feet (13.5 meters) — its highest level since records began in 1890.
No casulaties were reported.