Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 11:44 am EDT on Thursday 28 January 2021

Flood Watch Number: 1

Minor flooding may develop across the flood watch area from Friday afternoon.

A deepening low pressure trough will cross Victoria on Friday, and combine with an infeed of tropical moisture from the upper atmosphere which will result in statewide rainfall and thunderstorms on Friday.

Catchments across North Central Victoria are dry.

Widespread rainfall totals of 30 to 60mm are expected in the warning area during Friday, with isolated heavier falls of 80 to 90mm possible. The heaviest falls are more likely to be experienced with thunderstorms in the late afternoon and evening. Rain will tend to showers and thunderstorms during Friday evening, easing before dawn on Saturday morning.

Although catchments are dry, river rises are likely in the areas of heaviest rainfall and minor flooding may develop at some locations in the flood watch area from Friday afternoon.

Catchments likely to be affected include:

Broken River
Broken Creek
Seven and Castle Creeks
Goulburn River upstream of Lake Eildon
Goulburn River Eildon to Seymour
Goulburn River downstream of Seymour
Campaspe River
Loddon River
Avoca River

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