Rainfall and emergency calls
Melbourne recorded 47.8mm of rain from 9am on Thursday, its highest daily rainfall total since April 2024. Storms brought flash flooding to parts of the city and other areas of Victoria. More than 200 calls for help went to the State Emergency Service, which carried out six water rescues.
The Melbourne (Olympic Park) measuring station recorded the rainfall total. The city received as much as 25mm within an hour on Thursday afternoon as the weather system moved through. At about 3pm, Melbourne was plunged into darkness.
Heavy rain affected the city and other parts of the state as emergency calls came in and crews carried out rescues. The report doesn't specify where the water rescues took place or give further details about those who needed help. It also doesn't say whether flooding caused damage or identify any changes to public services.
David Crock, a senior meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology, said the 47.8mm total was Melbourne’s highest daily total since April 2024. “There is much more to come,” he said.
Rain expected to continue
Rain is expected to continue across Victoria on Friday and Saturday. A flood watch remains current for catchments across much of central and eastern parts of the state, indicating that flood-related monitoring is in place as further rain is forecast.
The forecast describes continuing rain, not an immediate end to the weather. Conditions are expected to ease on Sunday as the low-pressure system moves offshore. Easing conditions are forecast to arrive from the west.
The report gives no further rainfall totals for Friday or Saturday, and doesn't specify which catchments might experience flooding. It records the current flood watch across much of central and eastern Victoria, alongside the expectation that rain will continue over the two days.
Melbourne recorded the highest daily total since April 2024 on Thursday, while parts of the city faced flash flooding and emergency responses. The Bureau of Meteorology forecast more rain before conditions ease on Sunday. The figures in the report are 47.8mm recorded at Melbourne (Olympic Park), up to 25mm within an hour, more than 200 calls for help and six water rescues.
The report identifies no political decision, migration policy or transfer of governmental authority. It attributes the weather conditions to a low-pressure system and focuses on rainfall, emergency calls, rescues, the flood watch and Victoria’s forecast. Its timeline runs from Thursday’s storms to expected easing on Sunday.