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Sodden Victoria’s wet spring set to continue, flood alerts in place

Almost 200 roads were closed across the state last week.

Almost 200 roads were closed across the state last week. Photo: ABC

Victoria could be in for more flooding, as a severe weather warning for heavy rain spanning from Mildura across to Wodonga and down to Ballarat and Portland looks set to put pressure on already swollen catchments.

A severe weather warning for heavy rain is in place for the Mallee, Northern Country, North Central, North East, Wimmera and parts of the Central and South West forecast districts.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) warned the heavy rain could lead to flash flooding in the state’s north-west late on Tuesday afternoon and move across the Mallee and Wimmera in the evening.

It will reach central districts and the north-east early on Wednesday morning, it said.

Regional centres Mildura, Horsham, Bendigo, Shepparton, Seymour, Ballarat and Wodonga are all in the storm’s path.

The BoM said 20 to 40 millimetres were forecast across the warning area, while thunderstorms could cause localised falls of up to 70mm.

The State Emergency Service’s Trevor White said water catchment authorities, local governments and emergency services were monitoring the situation.

“By morning people are likely to see a lot of water on the ground, particularly up in the Mallee-Wimmera and it will exacerbate road closures,” he said.

Major flood warnings are in place for the Avoca and Wimmera rivers, while a moderate warning has been issued for the Loddon River.

Rivers remain flooded across the state from the south-west to the north, as catchments swelled from higher-than-average rainfall.

A campground in Charlton, inundated with water.

A campground in Charlton, inundated with water. Photo: ABC

An 84-year-old farmer died last week near Hamilton, in the state’s south-west, after his ute was swept away in floodwaters.

Residents in Charlton, in the north-west, were on high alert as the flood-prone Avoca River slowly rose and threatened to inundate the town.

Dozens of homes in Casterton and Coleraine in the south-west were affected by flooding, while the towns of Clunes, Skipton and Carisbrook in central Victoria watched nervously as nearby rivers rose.

Luckily, homes across the state escaped major damage but significant amounts of farmland was under water and almost 200 roads were closed.

One section of the popular Great Ocean Road was among the road closures after wet weather caused landslips.

Heavy rain could lead to flash flooding in the state's north-west late this afternoon.

Heavy rain could lead to flash flooding in the state’s north-west late this afternoon. Photo: Bureau of Meteorology

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the closure from Lorne to Wye River was being reviewed.

“[The road] may be able to open later in the week but at this point in time is closed,” he said.

“The reason that the road between Lorne and Wye River is closed that we have had water, mud, trees that have come onto the road and as the water has travelled over the road there has been some erosion under the road.”

The rain brought mixed blessings for those on the land. While the rain was welcome for many farmers, grain growers were concerned about damage to their crops.

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