Melburnians are being urged to brace for wetter conditions after slow-moving thunderstorms caused flash flooding in the city’s outer east on Tuesday afternoon.
Key Points:
- More storms are expected in central and eastern Victoria today
- 70mm fell in Lilydale, in Melbourne’s outer east, late on Tuesday afternoon
- The SES received more than 400 calls for help in Melbourne
In some areas, up to 70 millimeters of rain fell in a short window, prompting more than 400 calls for help to the State Emergency Services (SES) across the city.
The heaviest falls were in the outer eastern suburbs and parts of the Dandenong Ranges.
Tim Wiebusch from the SES said most calls for help came from Croydon, Chirnside Park, Mooroolbark, Lilydale, Emerald and Olinda.
“Those 400 requests for assistance basically came in a 90-minute period,” he said.
“Unfortunately, once again, we saw people trying to drive through the flood waters.”
He said this meant there were 25 rescues that “could have been avoided”.
“We just need people to make sure that if you encounter flood waters, you turn around and find an alternate route,” Wiebusch said.
“Don’t try to drive through flood waters. It may be the last decision you make.”
He said the Yarra Ranges Shire had set up a relief and recovery point in Mount Evelyn to support people whose homes had been affected by the flash floods.
Residents of three homes had to be relocated due to the effects of the floods.
A number of cars were stuck in flood water in Lilydale. (Supplied by Niamh Bampfield)
Bureau of Meteorology chief meteorologist Michael Efron said heavy storms had brought 70mm of rain to Lilydale, with 40mm falling in just half an hour.
He said there were unconfirmed reports of more than 100mm of rain near Seville, a town north-east of the Dandenongs.
“The storm activity yesterday was very slow, so that meant those totals were really significant,” Efron said.
“Today we will see more showers and thunderstorms in the central and eastern parts of the state.
“But these storms will move a little faster than what we saw yesterday,”
A garage in Tecoma was flooded during the flash flood. (Provided by: Callan Laughton)
Because they move faster, storms are unlikely to bring heavy rain to specific areas, he said.
Mr Efron said a new system expected to enter the state on Sunday would bring more rain to northern Victoria, which has been worst hit by devastating floods.
The cleanup continues while other areas remain under threat
On the other side of Melbourne, in the city’s inner west, residents are still cleaning up after the Maribyrnong River burst its banks almost a fortnight ago.
Wiebusch said “significant rainfall” in the Snowy River catchment across the NSW border had led to flood warnings in East Gippsland.
He said communities from Orbost to Marlo will likely be affected by flooding from this afternoon into this evening.
Wiebusch said flooding was still occurring along the Murray River from the town of Barmah to Echuca.
“Echuca is holding steady at 94.95 meters and is likely to be at or around that level for the next two to three days,” he said.
He said it was expected to remain above major flood stage for another week.
Levees remain prominent in Echuca as the community waits out the threat of flooding. (ABC News: Gavin Coote)
In Kerang, he said water levels had receded “slightly” but “renewed rises” were expected over the next 24 to 48 hours.
Meanwhile, the Victorian government has announced temporary housing to house those made homeless by the floods in Rochester, where most of the city was inundated.
Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes said the government was working with local leaders to ensure people could stay close to their communities as they rebuilt.
“What we will be developing is a temporary village that will consist of non-permanent structures from caravans in the early days to modular housing as we move forward,” he said.
He said Rochester residents should be able to move into the Elmore Events Center facility by the end of the week.