Flooding, wild winds hit eastern states

Wild weather has caused havoc for thousands across Australia's eastern states, with
floods forcing residents to flee and severe wind damage leaving swathes of homes
without power.
The hammering inflicted on parts of Queensland, NSW and Victoria was in contrast to
the picturesque scenes delivered to the nation's capital, where snowflakes
momentarily drifted from the skies.
The snow didn't lie for long amid the deep and muddy puddles left after days of
solid rain, but some residents caught a glimpse of the white stuff falling outside
their windows.
At Parliament House, it was a touch more like sleet.
Reports of snow also emerged from central NSW and at Victoria's Dandenong Ranges,
Kinglake and Ballarat as the state shivered through its coldest October low since
1995.
Overnight temperatures dropped to 4.7C, according to the Victorian Bureau of
Meteorology, paving the way for a chilly 15-degree day at Melbourne's races.
The $2.5 million Caulfield Cup went ahead despite the weather but the heavy track
took a toll, forcing several scratchings.
Fashionistas kept a close eye on forecasts, but it didn't deter some from wearing
their first choice of outfit.
Georgina of Hawthorn was one who put fashion before comfort.
"I thought about it but I was just like I've spent so much money on the dress, I'm
wearing it and I'm just going to look like I'm really warm," she said, sitting with
her boyfriend's jacket over her legs.
Much of the state experienced a cold, wet and windy start to the weekend with
widespread warnings of possible flooding and even the news that the rain has slowed
down the pending locust invasion.
In NSW, the downpour resulted in a natural disaster declaration for parts of the
state's south, where hundreds of people were forced to evacuate their homes and
major roads were cut off because of flooding.
The State Emergency Services (SES) said on Saturday it had received about 1000 calls
for help, with 46 people being rescued from the floods, including trapped motorists.
About 200 people were evacuated from the township of Tumbarumba after the nearby
Mannus Dam failed overnight.
Dozens of others were forced to leave their homes after properties were flooded in
the towns of Lockhart, The Rock, Uranquinty, Walla Walla, Holbrook, Adelong and
Tumut.
Wild winds and rain also delivered a blow to Queensland's southeast corner, knocking
out electricity supplies to nearly 50,000 homes and businesses.
Most were reconnected by Saturday afternoon.
More than 30 people at Lake Manchester in Brisbane's outerwest have been cut off
since Tuesday because of floodwaters.
The Brisbane City Council and the SES dropped off more food and gas to the residents
on Saturday afternoon.
Minor flood warnings are current for the Barcoo, Condamine, Macintyre and Brisbane
rivers.
Since last Sunday, most of Queensland's southeast has seen falls of between 100mm
and 300mm but the worst of the wet appears to be over.