Optimistic rain forecast for flood-stricken towns

The Bureau of Meteorology has revised down severe rainfall predictions, in good news for communities waiting for rivers to peak.

Warnings of widespread rainfall to hit Victoria in coming days have been scaled back by the Bureau of Meteorology, with forecasts not expected to trigger a new wave of major and widespread flooding.

In good news for residents in flood-stricken areas of northern Victoria, BOM senior meteorologist Kevin Parkyn said the revised predictions for the remainder of the week reduced flood risks in those areas where waterways were continuing to rise.

However, the BOM said a series of thunderstorms predicted to run through central and northeast Victoria on Friday and Saturday, bringing 30mm to 60mm of rain, had the potential to turn rivers into torrents and cause flashflooding.

“The expected rainfall over coming days is not expected to be anywhere near as widespread or as intense or as heavy (as rainfall last week that led to major flooding through Victoria’s north and central regions) and as a result of that we are not expecting a return to major flooding,” Mr Parkyn said.

“We’ll be watching that thunderstorm activity pretty closely and issuing warnings for more of a flash flood risk rather than heavy rainfall over a wider area.”

Under the revised forecast, widespread downpours predicted for Sunday, which would have swollen existing floodwaters and triggered fresh river pulses, were now “off the table”, Mr Parkyn said.

Meanwhile, the Murray River is now expected to peak at 95.6m above sea level in Echuca, a slight reduction on the 95.9m above sea level predicted earlier in the week.

However, that mark would still be the highest water level ever to be recorded in Echuca, where volunteers have constructed a 2km-long levee wall from sandbags and mud preparing for the massive surge of water.

The scaled-back predictions also mean some of the 400 roads cut by floodwater may open or have essential repairs carried out sooner.

The eight-day outlook from the BOM on Tuesday had predicted large swathes of NSW and Victoria would be hit with 50mm-100mm in the next week, falling on already sodden ground.

A rain-bearing system was predicted to start developing over northwest Victoria today, however the state should now experience only isolated showers.

By 2.30pm low level rain had been recorded near Stawell, in the central west, and near Dargo in eastern Victoria.

There are 15 active flood warnings in Victoria. These include major flood warnings for the Murray, Edward, Loddon, Avoca and Goulburn rivers.

Along with minor to moderate flood warnings placed on the Wimmera, Campaspe, Ovens, King, Kiewa and Yarra rivers, and final flood warnings on the Latrobe, Broken and Barwon rivers.