Evacuation warnings are in place this evening for residents in parts of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania as floodwaters rise.
Let's take a look at the biggest updates in each state.
Where to find emergency assistance and information
- For emergency assistance, contact the SES on 132 500
- If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000) immediately
- You can find the latest NSW evacuation orders here, the latest Victorian evacuation orders here, and the latest Tasmanian evacuation orders here
- For the latest weather updates visit the Bureau of Meteorology
Listen to ABC Local Radio for regular updates:
-
ABC Sydney on 702am or online
-
ABC Melbourne on 774am or online
-
ABC Hobart on 936am or online
-
Search for a different frequency using the ABC Radio Finder
Victoria
Residents of multiple Victorian communities in the state's north and central are being warned to prepare for major flooding as wild weather begins crossing Melbourne.
Emergency services are advising people in Rochester, between Bendigo and Echuca, to evacuate with major flooding expected from 3am on Friday.
The Campaspe River continues to rise rapidly and is expected to peak on Friday afternoon.
Victoria SES says the flood event is likely to be between seven and 10 days.
An evacuate now warning has been issued for Wedderburn on account of a dam failure, with the Skinners Flat reservoir likely to breach.
It is predicted this will result in one metre of strong fast moving waters from the reservoir through the Wedderburn township via the Calder Highway and out towards Wedderburn Junction Road.
Residents in the Seymour township are being urged to evacuate immediately.
The warning applies to the Goulburn River to Redbank Road, along the Goulburn Valley Highway to Whiteheads Creek up to the railway line and along the bridge crossing the river to the south and in low-lying areas around the Goulburn Valley Highway and Redbank Road area.
Residents in Carisbrook near Bendigo have been urged to evacuate, as major flooding occurred at the Loddon river
Authorities have issued emergency warnings for communities along the Goulburn and Campaspe Rivers as well as the Seven and Castle Creek catchments, predicting major flooding may occur in communities such as Seymour, Barnadown, Lake Eildon and Euroa within hours.
Community relief centres have been set up in Echuca, Seymour, Maryborough and Wedderburn.
It comes as thousands of homes across Victoria are without power and some regional townships are starting to be cut off due to floodwaters.
Heavy rain has also begun to hit Melbourne, with some parts of the city warned flash flooding could occur over the coming hours.
New South Wales
Hundreds of people in Forbes, in Central West New South Wales are being ordered to evacuate ahead of forecasted major flooding.
The State Emergency Service has issued an evacuation order for the central business district and the town's south, east, west, north-east and north-west to leave by 8pm.
The order is in place for around 250 homes and 78 streets across much of the town.
The Lachlan River is expected to reach a major flood peak of 10.6 metres later today or tomorrow.
An evacuation centre has been set up at the Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Church on Harold Street.
Tasmania
A Flood Emergency Warning - Evacuate Now has been issued for Liena to Latrobe and for Meander to Hadspen and surrounds by Tasmania SES.
An evacuate now warning has also been issued for parts of Newstead, in the Hart Street area, with widespread flooding expected after the Bureau of Meteorology issued a major flood warning for the North Esk River.
People are urged to evacuate, or move to higher ground if it is not safe to leave, from the area of Lake Isandula Dam on Isandula Road, Preston Road and Gawler Road in the direction downstream towards Ulverstone as Lake Isandula Dam is at risk of failure.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a major flood warning for the Mersey River and the Meander River.
Locations likely to be impacted are: Kimberly, Elizabeth Town, Merseylea, Sunnyside, Railton, Sassafras, Latrobe, Tarleton, Meander, Montana, Red Hills, Deloraine, Reedy Marsh, Exton, Westbury, Selbourne, Quamby Bend, Hagley, Westwood, Carrick and surrounds.
Evacuation centres are located at:
- Deloraine Community Centre - 2-8 Alverston Drive, Deloraine
- Latrobe Memorial Hall – 170 Gilbert Street, Latrobe
- The Green Shed - 52 Crockers Street, Railton
