Australian Music Festivals Called Off Due to Dangerous Flooding

Australia’s extreme weather called off this year’s festival season, as music events had to cancel their 2022 edition due to devastating floods. Several music festivals, including roaring names such as Strawberry Fields, announced they would postpone the annual events at the eleventh hour.

Rainy weather along the New South Wales coast created dangerous conditions for outdoor music events. Four-day electronic festival Strawberry Fields was halted after the site’s nearby river reached unprecedented flooding levels.

One month before its launch, directors announced they would suspend the festival as Australia’s flooding made site construction impossible. 

“At this stage it is not possible to commence event construction or be confident at all that the festival can safely take place. La Nina seems to be that unwelcome guest left at the house party that we just can’t kick off the couch.” 

La Niña is a climate phenomenon that cools and heats surrounding seas, increasing rainfall chances, flooding, and cyclones. The New South Wales electronic event wasn’t La Niña’s only victim.

Splendour in the Grass’s 2022 edition sank in pits of mud when the wild weather flooded the campground before the music event kicked off. Festival-goers were forced to abandon their tents and sleep in their cars and the first day of performances got canceled.

As if dealing with soaring costs and COVID-19’s financial effect wasn’t enough, several Australian music festivals called off their events due to weather hazards.

Flow Festival, Festival of the Sun, and This That Festival among others have been forced to cancel or postpone their editions. 

The Australian Actuaries Climate Index, which measures extreme weather conditions, recorded its highest measurement this autumn since 1981.