A significant rainfall event is expected to hit the majority of the State later this week, bringing much-needed rain to drought affected farmers.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is predicting that the south and east of Victoria will receive the largest rainfall totals, with some parts expected to see more than 100 millimetres over the next four days.
BoM senior forecaster Richard Carlyon said the rain will be significant enough to be considered a break for some parts of the State.
“People are obviously waiting for significant rain, given it’s been such a dry and warm autumn so far,” Mr Carlyon said.
“And it looks as though it’s coming, due to start on Thursday, and it could last until Sunday.”
He said the rain will come from a low pressure system that will move from Tasmania through the Bass Strait from Friday to the weekend.
He said the central ranges will receive most of the rain on Friday, with the system then shifting eastwards on the weekend, moving into West Gippsland on Saturday and then East Gippsland on late-Saturday, early-Sunday.
He said it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where the heaviest rains will be because the system is going to be particularly slow-moving.
“It’s going to be in our vicinity for quite a long time, so the heaviest rain will be determined by where it goes,” he said.
The North-West won’t receive as much rain as the rest of the State, but could see falls of between five to 20mm.
Mr Carlyon said the rain should have cleared by the end of the weekend, with another system expected to move through during the middle of next week.
“It won’t be as significant, but it looks like another system will see a few showers mainly in the southern areas next week,” he said.
The system will also bring cold, wintery conditions to the State.
“Temperatures will be well below average, averaging about 10-13 degrees across the State,” he said.
“Wind will also increase to stronger, gale-force winds on Saturday and Sunday.”
Johnsonville farmer Peter Kramme, who is just east of Bairnsdale, said the possibility of significant rain is very exciting.
It’s been dry on Mr Kramme’s property for some time now, with the most recent rain received only five mm in April.
“It’s not good here, a lot of the dams are getting dry, and I’m still buying hay every week,” Mr Kramme said.
He’s looking forward to the rain and said he hopes it comes through steadily.
“If it runs heavily it will be disastrous, but if it rains quietly for a couple of days, we’ll be alright,” he said.
Joely Mitchell
Joely started her career at Stock & Land as a cadet journalist in 2016. She is now the editor of the paper.
Joely started her career at Stock & Land as a cadet journalist in 2016. She is now the editor of the paper.
