Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 4:37 pm EDT on Friday 15 October 2021

Flood Watch Number: 4

Re-issued due to increased rainfall forecast for East Gippsland.

Minor to moderate flooding is possible from overnight Friday into Saturday in the catchments of the flood watch area.

A low pressure system will deepen in Bass Strait overnight before moving over the Tasman Sea early Saturday.

Catchments in the flood watch area are wet. In the 24 hours to 9:00 am Friday, widespread rainfall totals of 15 to 25 mm were recorded with some higher localised totals of up to 50 mm. Since 9:00 am Friday, further rainfall totals of 5 to 10 mm were recorded within the flood watch area.

From late afternoon Friday into Saturday morning, widespread rainfall totals of 30 to 50 mm are expected over the Upper Yarra, Dandenong, Latrobe and Otways catchments, with 50 to 70 mm on elevated areas. Isolated higher rainfall totals are possible with storms. Widespread rainfall totals of 10 to 30 mm, with isolated higher totals of up to 50 mm, are forecast for parts of East Gippsland from late Friday into Saturday afternoon. Showers are forecast for other catchments of the flood watch area, with rainfall totals of up to 10 to 30 mm overnight Friday into Saturday.

River rises are expected in the flood watch catchments from overnight Friday into Saturday. Minor to moderate flooding is likely in the Upper Yarra, Latrobe and Goulburn catchment tributaries from overnight Friday into Saturday. Minor flooding is possible in other catchments of the flood watch area from Saturday morning.

A minor flood warning is current for the Bunyip River, Dandenong Creek and Traralgon Creek catchments.

Catchments likely to be affected include:

Snowy River
Tambo River
Mitchell River
Latrobe River
South Gippsland Rivers
Yarra River to Coldstream
Yarra River downstream of Coldstream
Barwon, Leigh and Moorabool Rivers
Otway Coast
Kiewa River
Goulburn River upstream of Lake Eildon
Goulburn River Eildon to Seymour

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