New Zealand ACCESS Global Surface Temperature/Wind +168 hour Chart

How severe thunderstorms impact energy infrastructure

09:23 AEST Earlier this year destructive thunderstorms and winds equivalent to a category two cyclone lashed Victoria, bending towers and toppling trees and poles.  So, how can thunderstorms damage energy infrastructure, and are these events getting worse?   This event occurred during mid-February 2024, when a strong cold front generated severe thunderstorms and localised wind gusts of 130km/h after a prolonged period of extreme heat.