Melbourne Airport Faces Significant Delays Amid Thunderstorms

Melbourne Airport has experienced disruptions due to thunderstorms, leading to anticipated flight delays for the remainder of the afternoon and into the evening.

Ground staff were removed from the tarmac as a safety protocol when lightning occurred within eight kilometers of the airfield. The airport recorded 17 millimeters of rain in an 18-minute period after 2 PM.

Airport Explains Operational Halt

According to Melbourne Airport spokesman Andrew Lund, the severe weather, including thunder, lightning, and heavy rain, caused reduced visibility and halted ground operations. This prevented aircraft from loading or unloading and resulted in some flights being held in patterns.

Conditions Improve, Delays Persist

Lund confirmed that conditions have since improved, with visibility restored. Flight delays are expected to range from 30 minutes to two hours for most services. At least one flight from Hobart returned to Tasmania, resulting in an estimated three to four-hour delay.