Overnight rain brings light relief to Victoria

WESTERN Victoria has received some welcome rain overnight, somewhat easing fears of a continuing weak autumn break.

Appila farmer Greg Harvie checks his rain guage in a green paddock after drought breaking rainfall at his Braeside farm property in Mid-North SA.

WESTERN Victoria has received some welcome rain overnight, somewhat easing fears of a continuing weak autumn break.

Many Western District livestock producers continue feeding stock, waiting for more substantial falls to boost pasture growth, during what has been a very dry start to the year.

Overnight Dartmoor had 11mm in the 24 hours to 9am, while Casterton received 6mm, Portland had 10mm, Warrnambool 6mm, Balmoral 11mm and Beaufort 6mm.

But Natimuk only received 1mm, with many Wimmera regions getting only 1-2mm in the 24 hour period. Locations north of Horsham and Nhill generally received less than 1mm.

At Mortlake, 2-3mm was collected in most rain gauges and in the Ararat region, 4mm fell.

Dunolly received 5mm of rain.

Bureau of Metrology’s Dr Blair Trewin the Western District received 5-10mm overnight.

South central Victoria received less than 5mm and the northern half of the state had very little, he said.

“Up until last night there has been very little significant rain in the Western District for the last week,” Dr Trewin said.

Looking ahead, Dr Trewin said weekly totals of 10-20mm were forecast for much of the Western District, but possibly more rain over the weekend.

“So, even with this rain, we are still seeing a very dry period in western Victoria, it is significantly below average to date,” he said.

Conversely, Tasmania “copped a belting” overnight, he said, receiving up to 50mm overnight in central districts.