WIMMERA River flooding is expected to peak on Monday morning after rain eased off over the weekend and water was diverted to multiple lakes.
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With catchment areas soaked and many lakes full, the region is at risk of further flooding if heavy rains return later this month.
Horsham Incident Controller Stephen Warren said on Sunday that the Wimmera River was still subject to a major flood warning
“The water is still rising and should hit the major flooding level of 3.6 metres on Sunday night and peak at 3.7 metres on Monday morning,” he said.
“It will take a while for the water to go down.”
Mr Warren said emergency services had knocked on the doors of five properties at Dimboola to warn of rising floodwaters.
“Those properties will have water coming on to their land but not onto floors of their houses,” he said.
Property owners around Jeparit have been warned they face isolation from floodwaters and road closures. Drivers have been reminded to avoid floodwater.
Warracknabeal water levels are not expected to exceed September 2010 readings.
Flooded areas in the Wimmera could be hit with more rain this month as emergency services told regions across Victoria to prepare.
Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley has warned of more flooding to come next week and for the rest of September, both in already flooded areas and along rivers not currently flooded.
“We could have further rain in the coming week that will see further flooding in some rivers that aren’t in flooding now; those that are will enhance,” he said.
“We are looking at floods across September and we need to plan for that; whether we travel or we live in communities, we do need to think about flood waters.”
Mr Warren said the full lakes and wet catchment areas would increase the risk of flooding if the rains return, but not much rainfall had been forecast for the coming week.
“Water has been sent to Pine, Green and Lonsdale lakes, which is great for recreation in the summer but doesn’t allow us to use them to ease flooding,” he said