Tropical conditions to continue for the next few days

BoM senior forecaster Michael Efron said there was a risk of flash flooding in central and north eastern Victoria.

"Later today, we are going to see a south-westerly change entering the state with a band of showers and thunderstorms, affecting the south-west, Wimmera and Mallee, which could potentially bring some damaging winds and heavy rainfall."

Victoria would continue to experience tropical conditions.

"There's been fairly heavy rainfall in Queensland, and that moisture is coming down to Victoria, later today, and so Melbourne, the central and eastern parts will experience quite tropical conditions," Mr Efron said.

Before the change, northerly winds were likely to see extensive areas of raised dust, across the top of the state.

"For those agricultural regions, the rain may be falling at the wrong time, for others it will be quite welcome," Mr Efron said.

"In the south-west we are looking at falls of around 15-20mm, through the Wimmera slightly lighter totals, and even lighter falls up in the Mallee.

"As we head east those totals do pick up, so 30mm for the central parts, and into the north-east.

The tropical air could see some locally heavy falls, in excess of 50-80mm, over the course of Saturday and into Sunday.

Mr Efron said there was a potential for fires, sparked by lightning strikes.

"We have a severe fire rating across the Mallee district, a total fire ban is in place," Mr Efron said.

"It's been really dry across the Mallee, Mildura actually recorded no rain in October.

"That's the second time that's occurred, since records began."

There was also the potential for dust storms.

"MIldura, unfortunately, has seen a number of dust storms, over the last few months, and strong winds will see that being send south, towards central parts of the state," Mr Efron said.