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Flood-prone states getting more rain

Ben Domensino, Monday October 17, 2016 - 12:52 AEDT

Flood watches are in place for parts of Tasmania and Victoria today as more rain targets Australia's sodden southeast.

Excessive rainfall during recent months has left catchments saturated in parts of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Any moderate to heavy rainfall in the near-future could either cause new, or exacerbate existing river flooding.

Today's flood watches are in place for Tasmania's Northern and Central River Basins, the River Derwent and the Huon River. In Victoria, they extend from the North East to South West, including some of the Greater Melbourne Catchments.

A front brought widespread falls of 10-20mm across the nation's southeast during the last 24 hours, with isolated totals over 80mm on the alps.

In Tasmania, one of the wettest places was the Derwent region which is causing strong and dangerous flows in the state's south today. Cape Bruny collected 27mm during the 24 hours to 9am today, its heaviest rain in 15 months and the heaviest October rain in 32 years. Dover's 31mm was its heaviest for October in 15 years.

Victoria's heaviest rain was in the Central and North East Districts, which are under flood watches today. Ferny Creek picked up 25mm and Dartmouth 30mm, their heaviest falls in two weeks.

South Australia once again saw the heaviest rain target the Mount Lofty Ranges. Mount Lofty itself picked up 46mm, the heaviest October rain in 11 years. The site is now having its wettest October in 11 years, with two weeks still left in the month. Adelaide added 14mm to it's running annual total, which now stands at 683mm. This is Adelaide's wettest year-to-date in 24 years and the third wettest on record.

The New South Wales alpine area had the heaviest rain during the last 24 hours. Thredbo Village collected 81mm, the heaviest for October in six years. Recently flooded towns like Forbes in the state's Central West saw their heaviest rain in more than a month, including Forbes with 12mm. While this wasn't enough to trigger renewed river level rises, major flood peaks from early-September are still moving downstream along the Lachlan River around Euabalong today.

Another cold front will spread showers across the nation's southeast from tonight and through Tuesday. Widespread rainfall totals of 10-15mm with isolated totals over 30mm are likely in the southeast of South Australia, most of Victoria on and south of the ranges and across western and northern Tasmania.

This rain could cause river level rises, so visit http://www.weatherzone.com.au/warnings.jsp for the latest flood watches and warnings.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2016

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