The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) this afternoon updated a Severe Weather Warning for Heavy Rainfall at 4:55pm for people in Central, South West, Northern Country, North Central, North East, Wimmera and parts of Mallee and West and South Gippsland Forecast Districts.
Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms developing Thursday morning – flash flooding may result.
Weather Situation: A low pressure trough will move slowly eastwards across Victoria during Thursday, deepening into a low pressure system over central parts of the State.
Rain areas and thunderstorms are expected to develop across the warning area from the west during Thursday morning, with periods of heavy rainfall likely that may lead to flash flooding. Rainfall totals of 30 to 50mm are expected during the morning and afternoon – with locally higher totals in the 50 to 100mm range possible.
Locations which may be affected include Horsham, Bendigo, Shepparton, Seymour, Maryborough, Ballarat, Geelong, Melbourne, Wodonga and Wangaratta.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Don’t walk, ride or drive through flood water;
* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains;
* Be aware that in fire affected areas, rainfall run-off into waterways may contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks;
* Be alert that in areas recently affected by fires, heavy rainfall increases the potential for landslides and debris across roads;
The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 11:00 pm Wednesday 12 December.
