After an abnormally warm April high of 28C on Saturday, Melburnians were enduring an unseasonably cool 12C by mid-morning on Sunday, as severe winds and rainfall swept across the state.
By 11am on Sunday the temperature had fallen drastically and flash flood warnings were issued for the central and southwestern parts of the state.
The heaviest rainfall was expected after 5pm, though senior forecaster with the Bureau of Meteorology, Richard Carlyon, said it was difficult to predict where it would fall.
“Whether the peak will occur in the west or in the middle of the city is hard to say,” he said.
“The flash flooding warnings for later tonight when that heavier rain develops are for catchments in the south and south-west including the Melbourne and Barwon catchment areas.”
The East Gippsland, Greater Melbourne, and West and South Gippsland catchment areas have also been told to brace for flooding this evening. However, the flood risk to the east of the state, including East Gippsland, is expected to be highest on Monday morning.
The average monthly rainfall in Melbourne for April is 50mm. There was a chance that following the heavy rain forecast for Sunday evening, Melbourne would hit 50mm in just one day, Carlyon said.
“We’ve got an active low-pressure system moving through the western Bass Strait today and that should pass through the city of Melbourne later tonight,” Carlyon said.
“The low is driving up the rain and winds, and that’s why temperatures are much lower across the state today. Cold south-westerly winds will increase throughout the day.”
The cold front is expected to bring damaging winds averaging 65km/h and reaching up to 110km/h.
