Drivers airlifted to safety as freak rain closes freeway

Drivers were winched to safety after becoming trapped in their vehicles on the Hume Freeway as heavy rain brought floods and emergency warnings to northern Victoria on Thursday afternoon.

The flooded Hume Freeway, near Wodonga, on Thursday afternoon.

Victoria’s State Emergency Service had responded to more than 20 requests for assistance by 1pm (ADST), including reports of up to 100 cars trapped on the freeway near Wangaratta, in the state’s north-east.

Drivers and passengers waited on the tops of their vehicles before they could be airlifted away from the flooded road, as emergency services warned of worse weather to come later in the afternoon.

Read The New Daily story “Drivers airlifted to safety as freak rain closes freeway.”

The Climatedogs: The influencers of Victoria’s climate

Victoria is well known for its variable climate. From year to year, four global climate processes vary their behaviour, potentially resulting in wetter or dryer seasons.

Explore 'The Climatedogs' and learn how these four drivers work by herding rain towards or away from Victoria.

‘The Climatedogs’ was put together the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.