The Thomson River peaked at 3.12 metres at Sale Wharf overnight Monday into Tuesday, causing moderate flooding downstream of Wandocka in Gippsland. The Bureau of Meteorology said at 10.08am AEDT on Tuesday that the river was slowly falling, and it was at 3.01 metres at 1.58pm, just above the 3.00-metre moderate flood level.
The Bureau expects Sale Wharf to drop below the moderate level from Tuesday evening. VICSES has a Watch and Act message current for the Thomson River downstream of Wandocka. It says flooding above the floor level of a single-storey home "is likely to occur in some locations" and that main roads and bridges may be closed. No evacuation order has been issued.
The water came from rain that fell between Thursday and Sunday morning. In the week to 9am Tuesday, Cowwarr Weir recorded 190 millimetres, Mount Moornapa 176 millimetres, Maffra 121 millimetres and Sale 77 millimetres, according to the Bureau's weekly rainfall bulletin. The past 24 hours were dry across the catchments.
On the Latrobe River, minor flooding is occurring at Rosedale. The river was steady at 4.20 metres at 1.33pm, and the Bureau said it was likely close to its peak and would stay above the 4.00-metre minor flood level "for the next few days". VICSES has an Advice message for the Latrobe downstream of Traralgon.
The Barwon River is the one still rising toward a flood level. The main peak is near Inverleigh, and the Bureau said minor flooding "may develop at Geelong from overnight Tuesday". The river at Geelong was 1.92 metres at 1pm, below the 2.30-metre minor level. VICSES said the Breakwater causeway may begin to flood at 2.00 metres and the Barrabool Road floodgates may close at 2.30 metres. Upstream, minor flooding has eased at Ricketts Marsh and VICSES has issued its final warning for the Barwon to Inverleigh.
There is little rain in the near forecast to push the rivers back up. The Bureau's West Gippsland forecast gives Sale a 5 per cent chance of rain on Wednesday and none on Thursday, with the next useful falls not expected until Saturday and Monday. Geelong has a similar outlook.
Graziers face a separate risk. The Bureau has warned of cold temperatures and southerly winds early Wednesday across the Central, North Central and North East districts, with "a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions". A gale warning is current for the East Gippsland coast.
The Bureau's next Thomson and Barwon flood warnings are due by 10.30am AEDT on Wednesday, and the next Latrobe warning by midday. Road closures are listed on the VicTraffic website.
