Victoria pounded by heaviest rainstorms seen in 40 years

January 10, 2011 – “A LARGE area of northwestern Victoria is being flooded by torrential rain and thunderstorms, the heaviest in decades in some parts. The hardest hit areas have so far been the Mallee and Wimmera where as much as 110mm has been recorded in the last 24 hours, at Canary Island. Annuello near the NSW border gained 76mm to 9am Monday, their heaviest rain in 40 years and heaviest January rain in 85 years of records. Further south, Warracknabeal’s 77mm is an eight-year high and within a millimetre of the January daily record, set in 1974. Rain has been widespread across Victoria in the last day or so but has been generally lighter in central and eastern parts. It will continue to fall across most of the state for the rest of the week as a slow-moving low pressure trough deepens and moisture levels increase. Further heavy downpours are likely in western, northern and central parts, including Melbourne, with widespread 50 to 150mm by next weekend. More January records are possible with potential for more than 200mm. The system should reach its peak late in the week before dissipating in time for the weekend. Heavy falls are also possible in SA, Tasmania and NSW. -Stock & Land
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