victorian other Tasmanians are being warned to prepare for wild weather, with severe weather warnings for heavy rainfall and damaging winds issued for both states.
Victoria has been put on notice for a major flood emergency, with up to 100mm of rain likely to fall in some areas north of the Dividing Range and up to 50mm of rain in Melbourne, coupled with wild winds of gusts up to 100km/h.
The amount of rain forecast is expected to have the potential to cause significant damage, with the state’s water catchments already full.
The Thomson Dam in West Gippsland is expected to spill for the first time in 30 years.
A severe weather warning is in place for much of the state, including Melbourne, for tomorrow.
Numerous warnings of ‘watch and act’ and ‘prepare now’ are also in place for areas surrounding Victoria’s rivers.
Fears an existing landslide could be worsened by the rain has led to people in Bogong Village and Falls Creek in Victoria’s Alpine region having been told to leave the area by midday, and to a main road into the area being closed.
The SES has said the warning is due to a crack that was noticed in a track on September 29.
“Regional Roads Victoria have erected barriers around the area to minimize further movement on to Bogong High Plains Road. RRV are clearing and transporting debris from the site, on a daily basis,” a spokesperson for the SES said.
“A traffic management plan is in place, while geological technicians work to assess the slope. Emergency management teams are also meeting regularly to assess the need for further intervention.”
Manager of the Diana Alpine Lodge in Falls Creek, Lisa Logan, has told 3AW one lane on the only road out of the area is already blocked due to a slow-moving landslide.
“There’s only one road in at the moment. The other road out of Falls Creek is still closed due to snow.”
Logan said the road actually collapsed due to heavy rain fall 20 years ago.
Some regional communities are being warned that they could be isolated for up to 72 hours due to flooding.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a possible rainfall range of 45 to 70mm tomorrow, while Melbourne’s wettest October day on record – on October 31, 2010 – saw 61.4mm of rain fall.
However, Weatherzone is predicting that Melbourne will only see closer to 45mm of rain fall tomorrow.
Meanwhile, in Tasmania, a heavy burst of rain means the state’s north is predicted to potentially get more than 200mm of rainfall.
Winds are expected to bring persistent rain between this afternoon and Friday morning.
Flood watches and warnings and severe weather warnings are likely to be issued in Tasmania over the next few days.
Rain is expected to be lighter in southern Tasmania, but Hobart could still receive 20 to 40mm between today and Friday.
Hundreds of calls for help as heavy rain moves through NSW
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