Weather whiplash: What another season of fires and floods can tell us about West Vic’s future

A new report has found south west Victoria at the centre of a summer of “climate whiplash”, as communities spent the start of the year swinging between fire, flood and extreme heat.

What’s in it? Released on Monday, the Climate Council report warns Australia’s climate is now flipping between extremes at “breakneck speed”, with conditions shifting from drought and fire to heavy rain and flooding within days.

What does that mean? The phenomenon, known as climate whiplash, describes the rapid swing between opposing weather events - such as catastrophic fire conditions followed by flash flooding - which can cause greater damage than each event alone.

• These intensifying extremes have been linked to climate pushing the region toward more dangerous weather.

• Even well-researched climate patterns like La Niña - known to bring cooler, wetter weather - are now being overridden, with 2025 still recorded as one of Australia’s hottest years on record.

West Vic case study: The report points to recent weather events in western Victoria as a clear example.

• In January, the Brolga reported communities in the Otways, Streatham and Skipton were forced to evacuate as bushfires and grassfires burned under catastrophic conditions, before record rainfall triggered flash flooding that swept through coastal towns.

• Along the Great Ocean Road, more than 180mm of rain fell in just six hours, sending torrents through popular holiday spots like Wye River and Lorne, causing floodwaters with strong currents that saw cars and caravans swept out to sea.

• Just 10 days later, residents again faced evacuation warnings - this time from renewed fire danger in the Otways.

Researchers warn these events are becoming more frequent and severe, placing growing pressure on regional communities, emergency services and infrastructure.