Weather blog | Sandbags available in Euroa, severe weather warning updated

Make sure you keep checking back here as the day progresses for updates on the situation.

UPDATE, 5.15pm

Euroa SES have now closed their sandbag collection.

Unit controller Georgia Cardillo said they will re-open Monday if necessary.

UPDATE, 4.15pm

The Bureau of Meteorology has updated its severe weather warning for Shepparton, Seymour, Bendigo, Kyneton, Wodonga and Wangaratta.

The advice is for heavy, locally intense rainfall which may lead to flash flooding across Sunday afternoon and into the night.

Six-hourly rainfall totals between 40 to 70mm are likely.

Locally intense rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is also possible during this period, with six-hourly rainfall totals up to 100mm.

Goulburn Weir has recorded 44mm of rain in 6 hours.

UPDATE, 4.00pm

Euroa SES have sandbags available for the Euroa community at the SES headquarters at 37 Clifton St, Euroa.

They said on their Facebook page that they were able to provide advice at the unit on the best places and methods to lay sandbags to maximise effectiveness.

Unit controller Georgie Cardillo said they had used more than 3000 sandbags.

UPDATE, 2.15pm

There have been no changes to flood watch updates for the Goulburn River, Broken River, and Seven and Castle Creeks since yesterday.

In an announcement at 2.10pm today the four waterways remained on stay informed flood watches.

VicEmergency warned that an embedded low-pressure system that was forecast to develop over far western Victoria on Sunday evening and move to central districts overnight Sunday into Monday would bring widespread rainfall and was likely to cause minor flooding, with isolated moderate flooding from Monday morning.

VicEmergency said widespread rainfall totals of 30 to 60mm were likely in the western and central region catchments of the flood watch area on Sunday into Monday.

Isolated 60 to 80mm totals were possible due to heavy falls from thunderstorms.

Widespread rainfall totals of 60 to 100mm were likely across north central and north eastern catchments of the flood watch area from late Sunday into Monday.

Isolated totals over 100mm were possible due to heavy falls from thunderstorms.

Widespread minor flooding with isolated moderate flooding was likely to develop from Monday morning for parts of the Goulburn River, between Eildon and Seymour and also downstream of Seymour.

It was also likely for parts of the Broken River, and parts of the Castle and Seven Creeks both upstream and downstream of Euroa.

Under the warning, areas around rivers and streams, as well as caravan parks and camping grounds, may be flooded, according to VicEmergency.

Local roads may also be closed and low bridges may be underwater.

UPDATE, noon

A severe weather warning has been issued for areas including Shepparton and Echuca.

Areas under the warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology also include Wodonga, Wangaratta, Bright and Falls Creek.

The stay informed advice was issued Saturday night and was updated at 9am Sunday.

Warning is for heavy, locally intense rainfall which may lead to flash flooding across this afternoon and into the night.

Showers and thunderstorms will increase across Victoria during today as a low-pressure system develops across the north of the state.

Heavy to intense rainfall will develop in the warning area tonight as this low becomes slow-moving in a very moist environment.

According to VicEmergency, six-hourly rainfall totals between 40 to 70mm are likely.

Locally intense rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is also possible during this period with six-hourly rainfall totals up to 100mm.

VicEmergency advises that people should be prepared for flash flooding and warns that people should not enter floodwater.

Residents should also park cars undercover and away from trees, and stay inside if conditions outside appear dangerous.

The potential impacts of severe weather in the area include flash flooding, fallen power lines, fallen trees and branches, overflowing drains and gutters, and dangerous road conditions.

11.20am, Sunday, January 7

A long line-up of cars snaked around the corner and down the street at the Shepparton Search and Rescue unit this morning as Shepparton residents waited for sandbags.

The unit opened its Dudley St depot as a sandbag point at 10am this morning, and will remain open until noon.

A second load of sand has already been delivered by truck to the depot and Search and Rescue members joined with volunteers from the community to fill the sandbags.

City of Greater Shepparton mayor Shane Sali was also leading on the front foot, also down at the site helping to fill sandbags.