Yarrawonga will likely break its record rainfall for the month of October this weekend.
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After last week’s deluge where the town received a whopping 77.6mm in just three days the total for October, according the Bureau of Meteorology, sits at 102.6mm just 12mm short of the record of 114.6mm set in 2010. Yarrawonga’s monthly rainfall average for October is usually 37mm.
With large volumes of water coming down the Murray River north gate at the Yarrawonga Weir was opened over the weekend where flows have increased to around 105,000 megalitres per day through both the north and south gates. The river level below the weir peaked at 7.2 meters on Sunday but had dropped to 6.82 metres on Tuesday.
Yarrawonga Mulwala Canoe Club members have cleared out their shed in anticipation of the river rising more over the coming days/weeks.
“Our shed is the first to go under should the river rise anymore,” canoe club member Tim Roadley said.
“We have cleared everything off the floor up to the 1993 flood level which peaked at 7.8 metres. Let’s hope it doesn’t get any higher than that.”
The highest level ever recorded was in 1974 when the river reached 7.95 metres.
Yarrawonga Holiday Park Owner Michelle Driscoll said she and husband Shaun have done everything they can so far in preparation for flooding but unfortunately it was a wait and see scenario.
“The water did come up the boat ramp and the back of the park was flooded but it receded a lot overnight (Monday),” Mrs Driscoll said.
“We moved everyone off the waterfront and have done as much as we can in preparation.
“Everyone has different opinions. Some have said to watch the Hume Weir while others have said to keep an eye on the Ovens. We are just watching everything at the moment.
“We are just waiting for the rain this week but have prepared for what we can.”
Last Friday morning, many locals woke up to localised flooding resulting in a significant number of road closures, including the Murray Valley Highway between Rutherlgen and Albury, Yarrawonga-Benalla Road, Katamatite Road and various roads around Tungamah and Wilby.
Tungamah and Wilby residents experienced some localised flooding, with the Tungamah Recreation Reserve once again succumbing to a swollen Boosey Creek.
The Yarrawonga SES Unit was kept busy over the week assisting residents and vehicles in flood waters. The unit also supplied a sand bagging site on the netball courts at Dunlop Street which proved popular for residents from Cahills Rd experiencing minor flooding.
In Bundalong, residents have been keeping an eye on the Ovens River as flows continue to increase with water lapping at some back yards and some minor flooding around rural properties and Francis Elliott Crt.
Many towns in Victoria’s north who have been inundated by flood waters face a potential second wave of devastation from downpours this week with the heaviest falls predicted to arrive Sunday, when up to 35mm of rain is forecast to fall over the flood-affected regions.
Forecaster Keris Arndt, from the Bureau of Meteorology, said a low-pressure system would “spin up” over South Australia and arrive in Victoria late Wednesday.
“We’re expecting to see some showers and possibly thunderstorms in the far northwest on Wednesday that are going to spread throughout the state on Thursday,” Mr Arndt said.
The river is also receding at Echuca after peaking on Sunday, but will continue to ¬remain close to the major flood level. A second flood peak is expected to come from Murray River flows.
Farmers on edge
Corowa farmer and Murray River Action Group chair Richard Sargood said it was an anxious time for farmers and landholders.
“Everybody is concerned about how they are going to get on their paddocks come harvest time,” Mr Sargood said.
“Generally speaking, the crops are looking pretty good. The problem is, will paddocks have the ability to carry machinery to harvest, be it headers, trucks, and chaser bins? It’s going to be a very big challenge.”
Mr Sargood said if the rainfall continues, the risk of weather damage to crops will increase resulting in a downgrade to exceptional looking crop.
“I’ve never struck these sort of rainfall events, not necessarily big ones, but just one after the other,” he said.
“There’s been trouble getting onto paddocks to apply fungicide. All this humidity and rain has created a pristine environment for a lot of fungal infections in crops.
“You’ll hear spray plane going over each day trying to put fungicide on susceptible crops. It has nearly been a losing battle in some cases because there’s so much humidity and moisture coming out of the ground as well.”