Emergency continues across Victoria, Australia amid hundreds of homes inundated by heavy floods

 

- 

 Floods in Victoria are uncommon. Western Victoria town of Skipton under emergency warning. Flood situation still evolving

These heavy rains are unusual. Dense cloud bands have crossed the desert, carrying moisture evaporating from seas off north-west Australia. Rain has fallen across almost the entire continent in the last two weeks. Rain events are usually regional — not national.

Thousands of homes across Victoria are now inundated or isolated by floodwater in what authorities have described as a "major emergency for the state".

About 4700 homes are without power, with the largest group in Apollo Bay.
Evacuation orders have been issued for a number of Victorian towns including Seymour, Rochester, Carisbrook, Wedderburn and Charlton.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Diana Eadie has warned that the "flood situation is still very much evolving".
While the severe weather warning has now been cancelled for heavy rain and damaging winds, many flood warnings are currently in place.