Bureau of Meteorology forecasts wild rain, winds for South Australia, Victoria
Another state has been put on alert as a damaging weather system continues to move across Australia’s southeast.
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Residents have been warned to brace for protentional floods and heavy rains as wild weather lashes Australia's southeast.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a minor flood warning on Wednesday for northern Victoria and parts of Greater Melbourne.
Between 60-80mm of rain is forecast to fall across large swathes of the state, with isolated areas to be belted by as much as 120mm.
As a result, residents across the state – from the Grampians to the state’s northeast – were warned of potential flash flooding.
Damaging wind gusts of up to 100km are also possible across the central ranges on Wednesday afternoon, before spreading into alpine regions.
BOM senior meteorologist Michael Efron told 3AW radio the rains were not as threatening as falls last year which flooded parts of the state.
“Over the next few hours we will start to see rain move into central parts of the state,” Mr Efron said on Wednesday afternoon.
“Melbourne is a bit protected by the ranges, and is forecast to only get about 10-15mm of rain.
“There is also the risk of thunderstorms overnight into Thursday morning.”
The warning comes as heavy rain and strong winds continue to smash southern parts of Australia, with South Australia state recording 65,000 lightning strikes in 24 hours.
The wild weather system has been slowly moving east this week with Adelaide recording close to 30mm of rain in about an hour from 3am on Wednesday.
More than 10,000 homes and businesses were left without power at 6am.
The bureau issued a severe weather warning for South Australian residents in Upper South East, Lower South East and parts of Riverland and Murraylands districts.
“A slow moving cold front will move into the southeast of the state this morning, generating areas of heavy rainfall,” the bureau stated.
“Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is forecast for parts of the Riverland, Murraylands, Upper South East and Lower South East districts (Wednesday) morning.
“Six-hourly rainfall totals of 40 to 60mm are possible this morning.”
The bureau said heavy rainfall will ease during the day as the cold front moves further eastwards into Victoria.
Locations which may be affected include Renmark, Naracoorte, Lameroo, Bordertown, Karoonda and Keith.
Sky News meteorologist Bradlyn Oakes said the wild weather is “really starting to ramp up along the border with South Australian and Victoria” as the weather system continues to move from west to east into Thursday.
“There is the potential for flash flooding, this is why we have severe weather warnings in South Australia and into Victoria,” Ms Oakes said.
She explained there’s a 3-60mm of rain forecast to fall in a six hour period and “some areas could see up to 100mm in 24 hours and then the winds especially in higher elevations are expected to ramp up” in places like the Grampians.
Flood watches are also in place for northern Victoria and also greater Melbourne region.
âš ï¸ #FloodWatch issued for parts of #Victoria. Minor and isolated moderate flooding may develop from overnight Wed in catchments listed. See https://t.co/zQk6fgvnx0 for details and updates; follow advice from @vicemergency#VicFloods@vicsesnewspic.twitter.com/r7OmZ4bztZ
— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) June 6, 2023
“Some of those showers are easing as we go forward,” Ms Oakes said.
“Ahead of this cold front we’re going to have pockets of heavy showers.
“There‘s the potential for areas in Vcitoria and areas in eastern South Australia to get up to 100mm of rainfall falling.”
Perth recorded more than 100mm of rain in the last seven days.
Originally published as Bureau of Meteorology forecasts wild rain, winds for South Australia, Victoria
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