Parts of Victoria on flood watch as heavy rain set to continue
The harsh, wet end of summer in Victoria is expected to continue into March, with two more showers expected before Tuesday.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting up to 15 millimeters of rain in Melbourne on Sunday and up to 35 millimeters on Monday as the rain that caused flooding in the outback moves southwards.
The bureau warned that severe storms and heavy rainfall, which could cause flash flooding, were likely in western Victoria from Sunday.
“Tonight [Saturday]Meteorologist Dean Narramore said: “Heavy rainfall will be expected in Victoria and western parts of New South Wales.”
“Tropical lows that have been causing heavy rainfall across central parts of the country are eventually moving south over South Australia, which will bring a new wave of heavy rainfall on Sunday.
“As we move into Monday afternoon and evening, this threat is moving into inland New South Wales, but this low is eventually weakening.”
Cumulative total rainfall across Victoria in these two rainbands is forecast to be 50 to 100 millimeters, with individual rainfalls exceeding 150 millimeters.
The SES is warning eight parts of Western Victoria, including the Portland coast, Warrnambool, Grampians, Loddon, Wimmera and Mallee, to prepare for minor to moderate flooding from Sunday evening.
The warning came after nearly 50 millimeters of rain and large hailstones were recorded in an hour in many areas near Melbourne’s urban fringe. on fridayand another downpour that flooded Melbourne’s streets on tuesday.
SES volunteers responded to nearly 500 requests for assistance following these storms, with the town of Gisborne hit hard by both storms.
Despite the risks of damage and flash floods, the rain forecast is welcome news for regional Victoria.
The same parts of the state currently on flood watch experienced the lowest rainfall on record in the last two years, prompting drought declarations and financial assistance from the state government.
Victorian Farmers’ Federation president Brett Hosking said the rain had not fallen evenly so far.
“We’re seeing some farmers literally get over 25 millimeters, and five kilometers down the road the rain hasn’t even wet the ground,” he said.
“The ground is hungry for moisture and is absorbing it at this stage, but in some areas we are starting to see the soil reach saturation and water begin to flow from pastures into dams and rivers. Our river systems are incredibly dry.”
Horsham, the largest town in western Victoria’s Wimmera region, received 96 millimeters on Friday night; 85 of this amount was achieved in just 80 minutes.
A national phenomenon
Flood watches and warnings now cover nearly half of Australia’s territory; Major flooding is occurring in five catchments in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Mt Isa in north-west Queensland experienced its wettest February ever recorded, with almost 400 millimeters falling in the copper city.
Senior Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jon Fischer said a slow-moving tropical low tracking over the Simpson Desert in the south-east of the Northern Territory for a week was extremely unusual.
“We have all seen roads drifting, crashing into railroad tracks, and generally dry streams turning into floods,” Fischer said.
In South Australia, Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas warned residents to be prepared for risks that may arise in the coming days.
A severe weather warning is in place for the state’s west coast, western rural and Eyre Peninsula areas, with six-hour totals likely to be 30-70 millimeters, with isolated totals likely to be 120 millimeters.
from AAP
