Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 12:47 pm EDT on Tuesday 26 December 2023

Flood Watch Number: 4

ISOLATED MINOR FLOODING POSSIBLE ACROSS PARTS OF THE FLOOD WATCH AREA DURING TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY

A low pressure system over southern New South Wales will weaken on Tuesday and continue to move slowly east over the Tasman Sea on Wednesday. This system is expected to produce moderate to heavy rainfall with thunderstorms in the east and south Gippsland which may cause minor flooding in several catchments.

In the 24 hours to 10:00 am Tuesday, widespread rainfall totals of 30 to 115 mm have been observed across Victoria.

Catchments across the Flood Watch area are moderately wet following rainfall during the past few days.

Further widespread rainfall totals of 10 to 50 mm are expected in the Flood Watch area during Tuesday and into Wednesday morning, with isolated heavier falls of up to 80 mm possible.

Isolated minor flooding may develop at some locations in the Flood Watch area from Tuesday afternoon.

In areas where the heaviest rainfall occurs with thunderstorms, localised flooding is likely to develop and catchments may respond quickly.

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning for heavy rainfall is current for parts of North Central and parts of Central, Northern Country, North East, West and South Gippsland and South West Forecast Districts.

A Severe Weather Warning for heavy rainfall is current for Central and South West Forecast Districts.

A Flood Watch is current in NSW for rivers in the South Coast.

Please note that some flood class levels have been updated on the Snowy, Genoa, Mitchell and Buchan Rivers. Please refer to Victorian Flood Class Levels South of Divide (http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/flood/floodclass_south.shtml) for the current flood class levels.

Catchments likely to be affected include:

Bemm, Cann and Genoa Rivers
Snowy River
Tambo River
Mitchell River
Avon River
Macalister River
Thomson River
Latrobe River
Traralgon Creek
South Gippsland Rivers
Bunyip River and Dandenong Creek
Yarra River to Coldstream
Yarra River downstream of Coldstream
Maribyrnong River
Werribee River
Barwon, Leigh and Moorabool Rivers
Hopkins River
Otway Coast
Kiewa River
Ovens and King Rivers
Broken River
Seven and Castle Creeks
Goulburn River upstream of Lake Eildon
Goulburn River Eildon to Seymour
Goulburn River downstream of Seymour
Campaspe River
Loddon River(Minor Warning Current)
Avoca River(Minor Warning Current)

Flooding warnings are current for the following catchments: Upper Murray and Mitta Mitta Rivers.

The Bureau of Meteorology is continuing to monitor the situation and will issue catchment specific warnings as required.

See www.bom.gov.au/vic/warnings to view the current warnings for Victoria.

For more information on the Flood Watch Service: http://www.bom.gov.au/water/floods/floodWarningServices.shtml

Flood Safety Advice:
Note: This Flood Watch means that people living or working along rivers and streams must monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings and be ready to move to higher ground should flooding develop.

SES advises that all community members should:

Never walk, ride or drive through floodwater, Never allow children to play in floodwater, Stay away from waterways and stormwater drains during and after heavy rain, Keep well clear of fallen power lines Be aware that in fire affected areas, rainfall run-off into waterways may contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks, and heavy rainfall increases the potential for landslides and debris across roads.

Current Emergency Information is available at http://emergency.vic.gov.au For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

Current Road and Traffic Information is available at the VicRoads website:

http://traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/

Weather Forecast:

For the latest weather forecast see http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/

River Height and Rainfall information are available on the Bureau of Meteorology web site at http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/flood/

Flood Warnings and Flood Watches for Victorian Catchments are also available on: Telephone Weather Service No. 1300 659217.

Rainfall and River Conditions Map