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Rain to set in across Australia as floods hit Victoria

Flood waters inundated homes throughout western Victoria, with forecasts for more rain issued.

Flood waters inundated homes throughout western Victoria, with forecasts for more rain issued. Photo: ABC

Rain will continue to drench large parts of Australia over the next few days, as almost all states and territories bunker down amid flood warnings.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has forecast rain in every capital city over the next few days, while Victoria continued to endure severe flooding in the state’s west with predictions of more deluges to come.

Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Darwin will be hit by the most rain, forecasts predicted. The Northern Territory and Western Australia were the only states or territories to escape a flood warning from the BoM.

Homes, businesses and schools were inundated by floodwaters in the three days leading up to Wednesday in western Victoria, with records tumbling around the state.

Police and emergency services were searching for a driver whose ute was swept into a dam by floodwaters in Wallacedale, western Victoria.

“We have had some areas having the whole of their September average in a 24- to 48-hour period,” BoM senior forecaster Claire Yeo told The New Daily.

“Hopetoun had more September rain in 24 hours than the month’s average. Wedderburn had its wettest three-day period for September since 1916.

“Melbourne had 31.2mm of rain up until mid-Wednesday over the three-day event. The whole September average is 58mm.”

Ms Yeo said the Loddon, Wimmera and Avoca rivers were experiencing “major flooding”, but said the rain would subside on Wednesday evening.

However after another milder rain event on Saturday, Ms Yeo warned by the middle of next week Victoria could suffer from another hefty downpour.

“Potentially we could see rainfall totals similar to what we have seen already,” she said.

victoria floods weather

Similar rain may fall over Victoria sometime next week, BoM warned. Photo: ABC

“We have had an intense upper trough compared with an intense low pressure system that developed over the south east of Adelaide.

“That combined with the moisture already impacting the country from higher sea surface temperatures around the continent is what produced these falls.”

On Wednesday night, a severe weather warning was current for Bendigo, Shepparton, Seymour and Maryborough.

Land slips occurred on the Great Ocean Road forcing closures. Residents in Hamilton were urged to evacuate immediately because a temporary flood levy threatened to collapse.

victoria floods weather

A levee in Hamilton, in the south-west of Victoria. Photo: ABC

Flood warnings and rain almost everywhere

Rain is forecast for Sydney on Friday, Sunday and Monday, for Melbourne on every day until Tuesday, except Friday, and every day until Tuesday in Brisbane.

In Perth, rain would fall every day to Monday, except for Saturday, while in Adelaide Friday, Sunday and Monday would be rain-free.

In Hobart, rain will only fall on Saturday, Canberra would rain every day except Tuesday and thunderstorms were forecast for Darwin every day until Tuesday.

victoria floods weather

A road is closed near Maryborough in Victoria. Photo: ABC

Flood warnings were out for 19 rivers in Victoria including the Maribyrnong, Barwon, Werribee and Goulburn Rivers. NSW and Tasmania were also issued with lengthy flood warnings.

Emergency authorities warned anyone faced by floodwaters to stay out of it under all circumstances.

People should also stay away from fallen power lines, waterways and stormwater drains. In fire-prone areas rainfall runoff into waterways can cause debris to incite landslides.

victoria floods weather

Houses are being sandbagged at Carisbrook. Photo: ABC

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