Heavy rain and damaging winds are developing across south east Australia with flood warnings in place in Victoria, Tasmania and NSW.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
In Victoria, the State Emergency Service received 770 calls for assistance overnight and about 9000 homes were without power overnight, according to Powercor.
Victorians have been told to avoid unnecessary travel for 24 hours. Twelve watch and act warnings are in place across the north, north-east and central areas and advice-level warnings are in place for almost all of the state.
Most of northern and central Victoria including Melbourne is under warning for heavy rainfall.
Overnight Strathbogie, north east of Melbourne, received more than 100mm of rain.
In the rural Victorian town of Rochester flood peak scenarios have been upgraded, with a one in 200-year flood event a possibility. Residents of Rochester are sandbagging heir homes to prepare for flood water as the town braces for torrential downpours later today.
In Tasmania, the Forth and Mersey rivers are forecast to flood, with the most significant rain expected on Thursday and overnight into early Friday morning.
The northern half of the island state is on high alert on for flash flooding. Up to 100mm of rain is forecast in the north, 180mm in the northeast and up to 250mm around the Great Western Tiers.
Tasmanian State Emergency Services acting director Leon Smith said the forecast rain was on par with the amount that caused the 2016 floods in the state's north in which three people died.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Massive swathes of an already drenched NSW are expected to cop as much as another 65mm of rain by week's end.
NSW has now set a new record for the highest October daily rainfall record, with more than 50mm of rain overnight. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that Thursday will deliver the heaviest rain and damaging afternoon winds above 90 km/h are forecast in alpine areas of NSW.
State Emergency Services has warned that all community members should never walk, ride or drive through floodwater, and never allow children to play in floodwater. Members of he community should also stay away from waterways and stormwater drains during and after heavy rain, keep well clear of fallen power lines.
The Bureau of Meteorology are providing flood warnings on their website.
