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Australians on the east coast have been told to prepare for heavy rains, storms and a ‘bitter cold’ Arctic explosion as Melbourne gears up for the next flood – however, there is good weather news with La Nina ending earlier than expected.
In Victoria, severe storms are likely to cause torrential rainfall and flash flooding in central and northern Victoria, including Melbourne, as clean-up work continues.
Residents in Shepparton, Seymour, Kyneton, Melbourne, Bacchus Marsh and Wangaratta remain on high alert as flooding is expected to increase on Wednesday.
Several states on the east coast will be hit by a frigid ‘polar blast’ as cold winds rise from Antarctica and hit Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart.
“It’s going to be a very chilly and sometimes wet week, with temperatures five to six degrees colder than average for the time of year, much more typical for August,” Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke told 9News.
Residents will start to shiver as the system brings cold winds, showers and even hail to several states – just in time for the Melbourne Cup celebrations on Tuesday.
But good weather is now forecasting La Nina to end earlier than expected with the miserable weather finally clearing up in the new year.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has confirmed that La Nina will weaken in early 2023, with the Indian Ocean dipole “going into rapid decline” in late spring.
Back in Victoria, the state emergency service has urged people in these areas to be extra vigilant and not to drive through flooded areas.
An evacuation order remains in effect for Echuca, with major flooding expected to peak in Moama, surpassing the floods of 1975 and 1993.
Major flooding continues along the Murray River at Echuca, Moama, Torrumbarry and Barham, while moderate flooding occurs along the Campaspe River.
The water level reached 32mm on Tuesday at Kyabram, in north central Victoria.
The north west of the state was plagued by isolated showers with Lilydale, about 31 miles from Melbourne, where it was hit hardest by the heavy rains that sparked 200 calls for help and 11 rescues.
A Watch and Act was issued late Tuesday afternoon for the town of Numurkah, north of Shepparton, on Walshs Bridge Road and Walshs Bridge Road South, south/east of Nathalia.
Maribyrnong City Council has resumed cleanup efforts after a brief halt to hard waste collection due to extreme weather conditions.
At least 1,500 tons of waste material has been removed throughout Maribyrnong as residents assess the extent of the flood damage.
Tens of thousands of Victorians have been affected by recent flooding, and last week Prime Minister Daniel Andrews announced that a Victorian Flood Recovery Management Plan would raise $150 million to help clean up.
Victorians will experience showers across the state for the next few days before the system weakens and moves up the east coast.
In NSW, the weary southeastern town of Cooma was hit by heavy rain and storms, isolating homes and flooding major roads.
Some business owners reported that floodwater in their businesses was up to the shins after Cooma’s two main creeks – Cooma Creek and Cooma Back Creek – overflowed their banks.
Weatherzone reported that the heaviest falls were recorded further east on the NSW south coast and environs, with 104mm at Belowra and 162mm at Mt Darragh.
The low pressure system responsible for the wet and wild weather is now moving towards Tasmania, bringing rain and wind for the next 48 hours.
A flood warning has been issued for the Coal River, in Cambridge in the south of the island nation, and the Macquarie River in the east.
A flood watch has also been put in place for the North, North East, Derwent and South East watersheds, with damaging wind gusts expected over the North and East.
Weatherzone said the low-pressure system that caused flooding over southeastern NSW Monday night on Tuesday morning will cross Bass Strait and bring a “burst” of wind and rain to Tasmania on Wednesday.
“Some areas in the eastern part of the state could see 100 to 200mm of rain over the next two to three days, much of it falling between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning,” the forecaster said.