Storms could bring more flooding to Victoria on Friday, but weekend improving

Thunderstorms caused flash-flooding in parts of Victoria on Thursday night and more wet weather will hit the state on Friday, but the weekend could bring clearer skies.

Two watch-and-act alerts for flash-flooding – which have now been downgraded – were issued for the Woodend and Maryborough areas north-west of Melbourne Thursday night after a rain band, which included patchy storms, passed across Victoria.

More wet weather is expected to hit Victoria on Friday.Credit:Paul Jeffers

The State Emergency Service took 175 calls for help as the front crossed, 81 related to flooding.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Miriam Bradbury said the weather system brought moderate rainfall totals to parts of central and north-eastern Victoria, with isolated heavier falls between 30 and 50 millimetres.

She said another wet weather system was on the way Friday, beginning in north-eastern Victoria and pushing through the Dandenong and Yarra Ranges east of Melbourne into Gippsland.

Bradbury added the weather band could bring thunderstorms from late morning, which could again potentially cause river and flash-flooding.

Minor flood warnings are in place across the state, including for the Yarra and Murray rivers.

“With further rainfall on the way today, it’s quite possible we might see more changes to those flood warning areas,” Bradbury said.

All but five of the 175 calls for help the SES received last night were cleared promptly on Friday morning. Alongside the 81 calls relating to flooding, 46 were for building damage and 29 were for downed trees. Ballarat and Woodend were also the top destinations where services were required.

However, Bradbury said that by the weekend, the wet weather would clear.

“The weather system is really moving off overnight Friday and into Saturday, so by the weekend we’re just looking at much more isolated showers on and south of the ranges,” she said.

“Very low rainfall totals are expected through there and quite a bit of sunshine coming through as well.”

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