What's the temperature where you are???

[muddy75]

46 and partly cloudy, high of 75

 

[EmmaDonovan]

1:00 PM
83F
20% humidity
sunny

Tomorrow it'll be nearly 100F again so we'll be back to ice runs but we had a break from doing that for two days. It's been nice to see the chickens more comfortable and not panting all the time. This cardinal was also enjoying the cooler temps.

 

[Nym]

Monday 21st of October 6.21a.m. Grey overcast. Cold and windy. Moderate 20.4 / 27.8kph SW, Hg56%, 16.4C / 61.5F top of 21C / 70F. Windy. Partly cloudy. Marine wind + hazardous surf warning.

Moon is 84.1%

Casterton storm clean-up begins after hail and rain devastate Victorian town

Hail disrupts Laurent Huret's karate class in Casterton. (Supplied: Sarah Huret)

In short:​

Casterton residents are cleaning up after a fierce storm hit the town on Wednesday evening.

Emergency service workers have been helping locals pump out water, remove furniture and release water from roofs.

What's next?​

Business owners expect it will take months to repair the damage and they do not know when they will be able to resume trading.

The people of Casterton are assessing the damage after a hail storm lashed the south-western Victorian town on Wednesday evening.
Many shops have signs saying they are not sure when they will reopen because of water damage and holes in ceilings, roofs and windows.

Casterton about 30 minutes after a storm swept through. (Supplied: Sarah Huret)

John Simlon and his partner's restaurant Kwinotti only opened recently in Casterton but suffered water damage after about a dozen skylights were smashed by the hail.

"It's absolutely devastating to come home to something like this," he said through tears.

"We've only been opened for three months.

"It's been a passion, and the amount of love that has been put into this old SEC building, which is now an iconic building here in western regional Victoria … it's absolutely soul-destroying to come back to something like this — years of work."

Mr Simlon said he was worried about mould and mildew.

Schools in the town were also damaged. (Supplied: Sarah Huret)

'The community's fantastic'​

Laurent Huret was teaching karate in a church hall when the hail started smashing into the roof.

He said the children started getting scared, then rain came inside and light fittings fell to the floor.

Laurent Huret's karate students were frightened by the storm. (ABC News: Josh Brine)

" just made sure they were in a safe spot and just to sit down, stay calm," he said.

" kept them calm and preoccupied while I went around and searched and made sure everything was OK."

He expected people would work together to clean up.

"The community's fantastic," he said.

"Everyone's here to help everyone and that's what it's about."

'Like a thousand horses' ​

"People are pretty resilient and they'll get back and be better than ever."

He said fruit and limbs had been knocked off trees, leaving them bare.

"It sounded like a thousand horses racing across the roof and I thought any minute the roof is going to crash in," he said.

Insurance Council of Australia chief executive Andrew Hall said it had been an early start to storm season across south-eastern Australia.

"Storm season is unpredictable and in Australia extreme weather can strike any place and at any time," he said.

"That's why it's vital to be prepared and ensure your insurance cover is up to date.

"We also recommend consulting your local state emergency service for safety tips and to keep informed via resources available from fire and emergency services agencies."

 

[Debbie292d]

It's still 74F at 5:30 p.m. CST. It was up to 78! Sunny and windy.

Low is only 51 so the cozy coop hutch heaters are off until it dips down in the 30s again.

 

[chrissynemetz]

44°F light rain
10:52 p.m.

 

[Nym]

I put my new thermal daks on to take the dogs out along the lake. When the sun came out I roasted .. luckily the clouds kept moving over. The southerly wind belting across the lake is icy! Two good size hills of mulch have been piled in readiness for some 'garden' extention, so the dogs had lots of fun climbing, sliding and catching the ball from the other side and running back through the center of the two piles. We then walked out on the breakwater to feel the full blast of the wind and waves splashing up the rocks. According to my step counter I walked 2233 steps.

3.18p.m. I think it's stronger judging by the tree movement.

 

[muddy75]

45 and partly cloudy high of 77

 

[Jenbirdee]

 

[kikiruru]

Monday 52 feels 48
at 659 am

 

[ChurchGirl]

54°F