Victoria faces up to 150mm rain as campers flee Otways flooding threat
Victoria faces heavy rain that could deliver 150mm in 24 hours; the Otways face flash flooding danger.
Victoria is bracing for heavy rainfall that could match the devastating January floods when cars were swept out to sea. The Otways could cop up to 150mm in the next day, and southwestern Gippsland 110mm, with flash flooding a serious risk.
Melbourne just recorded its wettest day in two years on Thursday, when 47.8mm fell, more than half of it in a single hour. The York Street bridge in South Melbourne saw two cars trapped in floodwater.
Police rescued the occupants in both cars, including a family of four. More than 20 rivers across Victoria are now on flood watch.
The State Emergency Service is urging anyone camping near creeks or rivers to move to higher ground immediately. The heavy rain has also forced the Victoria Racing Club to put contingencies in place for the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes, scheduled for Saturday at Flemington.
- 150mm in 24 hours
- Otways rainfall forecast
- 110mm
- Southwestern Gippsland forecast
- 47.8mm
- Thursday rainfall in Melbourne
- More than 20 across Victoria
- Rivers on flood watch
Why it mattersVictorians face immediate flooding danger; the rain could match January's destructive deluge and is putting lives at risk.
AustraliaVictorians near waterways must evacuate now; major horse race may be postponed; Melbourne water infrastructure under stress.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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