Residents across parts of regional New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania are facing wet and windy conditions and possible evacuations as major floods threaten south-east Australia.
Look back on how Thursday's events unfolded in our blog.
Key events
- Emergency evacuation for Rochester, Victoria
- Hundreds of people ordered to evacuate in Forbes, NSW
- Emergency warning issued, 'major flooding' may hit Seymour, Victoria within hours
- More school closures across Victoria
- Evacuation centres are now open in Tasmania's north
- Search continuing for man thought to be missing in NSW floodwaters
- Towns in regional Victoria are starting to be cut off
- Rain to continue in Tasmania, due to ease tomorrow morning, BOM says
- Daniel Andrews says floods will be 'one of the most significant' Victoria has seen
- More of Forbes's CBD has been told to prepare to evacuate
- Victoria's Thomson dam could spill for the first time in 30 years
- Victorians told to avoid unnecessary travel for 24 hours
Live updates
By Jessica Riga
Where to find emergency assistance and information
We're going to close the live blog here, but here's where to find emergency assistance and information.
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For emergency assistance, contact the SES on 132 500
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If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000) immediately
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Roads and bridges may be impacted by flash flooding. You can find the latest NSW evacuation orders here, the latest Victorian evacuation orders here, and the latest Tasmanian evacuation orders here.
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For the latest weather updates visit the Bureau of Meteorology
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If you're not sure what to do when there's a flood, here's the best way to plan
Listen to ABC Local Radio for regular updates:
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ABC Sydney on 702am or online
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ABC Melbourne on 774am or online
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ABC Hobart on 936am or online
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Search for a different frequency using the ABC Radio Finder
By Jessica Riga
What you need to right now for Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania
Victoria
- Residents of multiple Victorian communities in the state's north and central are being warned to prepare for major flooding
- Emergency services are advising people in Rochester, between Bendigo and Echuca, to evacuate as the Campaspe River continues to rise rapidly
- A relief centre has been set up at the Echuca United Netball Football Club on High Street. The river is expected to reach minor flood levels by 9pm, and major flood levels by 10am Friday
You can read more about the flooding in Victoria here.
New South Wales
- Hundreds of people in Forbes, in Central West New South Wales are being ordered to evacuate ahead of forecast 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 Lachlan River is expected to reach a major flood peak of 10.6 metres later today or tomorrow
You can read more about the flooding in New South Wales here.
Tasmania
- Several people have been rescued in Tasmania's north and residents from Latrobe to Liena and Meander to Hadspen are urged to evacuate as the Mersey and Meander Rivers rise amid increasing rainfall
You can stay up to date with our live blog on Tasmania's flooding here.
By Jessica Riga
Melbourne to expect flash flooding before easing Friday morning
In Melbourne, BOM is forecasting the potential for up to 50 millimetres of rain and flash flooding, especially in the eastern suburbs, as the rain band reaches the city.
Watch and Act warnings have been issued for flash flooding for suburbs across Melbourne.
The Bureau's Miriam Bradley says the rain should ease in parts of the state, by early tomorrow morning, but the flood risk remains.
"We're really going to see those higher rainfall rates easing off, the heavier rainfall really contracting to the north-east and by around dawn tomorrow," she says.
"We're really just expecting scattered showers across the east, fairly isolated showers elsewhere and that'll continue to ease through Friday."
By Jessica Riga
North-east Victoria sees all hands on deck to make sandbags
The council and SES are sandbagging around Merriwa Park, Wangaratta in north-east Victoria.
A crew is making sandbags on the go and about 4,000 have been delivered so far.
The worst of the weather impact is expected to hit overnight as river levels continue to rise.
By Jessica Riga
Watch: Aerial footage captures flooding in Forbes, NSW
As I mentioned a little earlier, an evacuation order is in place for about 250 homes in Forbes in NSW ahead of a predicted major flood peak on the Lachlan River.
The SES expects about 500 people to be affected by the order.
By Jessica Riga
Emergency evacuation for Rochester, Victoria
Residents in Rochester, Victoria are being urged to evacuate immediately.
- Floodwaters are rapidly rising
- Major flooding is expected to impact Rochester on Friday from 10am, with the Campaspe River expected to peak on Friday afternoon
- The river is expected to rise to minor flood levels from 9pm Thursday
- The duration of the flood event is likely to be between seven and 10 days
By Jessica Riga
The latest warnings for Tasmania
Let's check in with Tasmania.
A severe weather warning and multiple flood warnings are in place and these will worsen today and tomorrow with rain expected to clear late Friday.
- There is a major flood warning for the Mersey River
- Moderate flood warning for the Forth River, Macquarie River, Meander River, North Esk River
- Flood watch for North West, North and North East, and Derwent catchments
By Jessica Riga
Hundreds of people ordered to evacuate in Forbes, NSW
Reporting by Mollie Gorman, ABC Central West
Hundreds of people in Forbes, in Central West New South Wales are being ordered to evacuate ahead of forecast 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 Lachlan River is expected to reach a major flood peak of 10.6 metres later today or tomorrow.
The order is in place for around 250 homes and 78 streets across much of the town.
SES spokesman Lachlan Gilchrist expected around 500 residents would be affected and urged them to "follow this advice carefully" as it could become unsafe if roads are flooded.
You can read more in the article below.
By Velvet Winter
Sandbags in demand in Melbourne's west
The Bunnings at Maribyrnong, in Melbourne's west, has become an SES sandbag collection point.
The Maribyrnong River is expected to peak at moderate flood levels tomorrow morning.
Businesses and homes likely to be affected by floodwaters have been laying down sandbags this afternoon.
By Velvet Winter
SES out in full force in Swan Hill
It's a busy day for emergency crews in Swan Hill, in Victoria’s north-west.
The SES has received 30 calls for help in the last 24 hours, mostly due to flash flooding.
About 75mm of rain has fallen since 9am Wednesday.
Reporting by Francesco Salvo
By Velvet Winter
WATCH: Flood waters encroach on Bendigo
We've received a number of videos from residents in Bendigo, Victoria documenting overflowing streams and heavy rainfall in suburbs around the city.
Here's what it looks like from a local's perspective.
By Velvet Winter
Victorian SES receive 1600 requests for assistance
More from the Victoria press conference.
Victorian State Emergency Service commander Tim Wiebush says the SES has received 1600 requests for assistance, of which 300 were for fallen trees, while the rest were for flash flooding and requests for sandbags.
"Victoria is now experiencing a very significant flood emergency," he says.
"If you attempt to drive through flood waters, it could be the last decision you make."
He says towns along the Goulburn river like Seymour are currently under threat, but Victorians in other areas should stay alert for emergency warnings.
"Shepparton is likely to see major flooding from Saturday afternoon, similar to levels we haven't seen since October 1993," he says.
"In that type of scenario we could see up to 600-odd properties that are isolated, and around 50 properties that become inundated above floor level."
Reporting by Ashleigh Barraclough
By Velvet Winter
Major flood warnings for Victoria, more rain for Melbourne
Speaking at the press conference, Diana Eadie from the Bureau of Meteorology says there are major flood warnings for the Campaspe, Goulburn, Maribyrnong and King Rivers, and Seven Creeks.
She says the bureau is closely watching Seymour this afternoon, where there is potential for major flooding.
"We could see another 20 to 60 millilitres across those same areas in those same impacted areas across northern and central Victoria," she says.
She also warned that metropolitan Melbourne was in for more rain this evening.
"For the Melbourne area, the greatest risk is between 5pm and 7pm when we could see an intense shower line move across the area," she says.
"The ground is already really wet in Melbourne, so any rain that does fall could potentially lead to flash flooding."
Reporting by Ashleigh Barraclough
By Jessica Riga
SES perform 20 rescues across Victoria, thousands without power
Emergency Management Victoria held a a press conference a few moments ago.
Andrew Crisp, emergency management commissioner, says Victoria as a whole was being impacted by the weather conditions.
"We're definitely seeing the rainfall that was forecast," he says.
"We have more than 70 warnings out there at the moment."
He says 10,000 people are currently without power.
"A lot of work is happening very quickly to bring people back onto power," he says.
He says the State Emergency Service has carried out more than 20 rescues in Victoria so far.
Crisp urged people to stay off the roads, or check for road closures if travel is necessary.
"If you don't need to be on the road today, don't be on the roads," he says.
Reporting by Ashleigh Barraclough
By Jessica Riga
Seymour, Victoria expected to see flood levels similar to 1974
Here's some more information for our Victorian readers.
Emergency services are warning of major flooding of the Goulburn river, with an emergency warning in place as major flooding is imminent at Seymour, 100 kilometres north of Melbourne.
Flood levels at Seymour are predicted to reach levels similar to the May 1974 flood, which the SES says is the second largest recorded flood in Seymour history.
During that flood more than 180 homes and businesses were impacted by over-floor flooding and 279 became isolated.
Flooding is expected to extend downstream on the Goulburn to reach major flood levels at Shepparton by Saturday evening.
An emergency warning has been issued for the Goulburn River, from Lake Eildon to Seymour, with residents in low-lying areas urged to evacuate.
Reporting by Kate Ashton
By Velvet Winter
WATCH: Loddon River bank breaks near Glenlyon
Footage shows part of the Loddon River near Glenlyon in rural Victoria overflowing at midday today.
In the last 24 hours, BOM observed 40-60mm of rainfall in the Loddon River catchment.
By Jessica Riga
In pictures: Bullock Creek spills over into Malone Park
Water from Bullock Creek is spilling over into Malone Park in Marong, west of Bendigo.
The Marong Football Netball Club posted on Facebook that sponsor signs have been ripped off by the floodwaters and taken by the current.
By Jessica Riga
Emergency warning issued, 'major flooding' may hit Seymour, Victoria within hours
An emergency warning is being issued for major flooding at Seymour in Victoria.
Flooding is expected along the Goulburn River, from Lake Eildon to Seymour.
Authorities say the area could be impacted anytime from this afternoon.
Those in low-lying areas or near water catchments are being advised to move to higher ground.
A relief centre will be open later this afternoon at the Seymour Sports and Aquatic Centre on Pollard St.
