Severe Storms Bring Flooding and Winds to Australia and Parts of U.S.

Severe and unsettled weather is affecting several regions, with Australia facing fire danger in Tasmania, damaging winds, flooding, power outages and heavy rain across parts of South Australia and Western Australia, while unusually warm winter conditions and a likely El Niño pattern are also forecast nationally. In Indiana, a strong thunderstorm was moving southeast near Lebanon and Frankfort, threatening gusty winds capable of downing branches and scattering unsecured objects along portions of three interstates. A separate storm in western Wyoming was producing wind gusts up to 50 mph, nickel-size hail, lightning and heavy rain that could cause localized flooding, prompting warnings not to drive through flooded roads. The outlook for another region calls for easing winds and warmer conditions through the weekend, with only a slight chance of showers south of Highway 50 early next week.