Big rains forecast

Rainfall levels of between 30 mm and 100 mm have been ‘‘confidently’’ predicted for the region tomorrow and Thursday, potentially breaking one of the driest starts to the year on record.

Michael Efron.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Michael Efron said north and north-eastern Victoria should get the bulk of the state’s falls in coming days.

‘‘Over the next few days we’ll see a deep pressure system forming south of Adelaide and with that we can see a band of rain and imbedded thunderstorms developing across western Victoria during Wednesday and extending into eastern parts of the state during Thursday,’’ Mr Efron said.

‘‘And, with that system, we are looking at some quite healthy totals across northern and north-eastern Victoria over the two days.

‘‘Rainfall totals of around 30 mm to 60 mm and, with some thunderstorms likely, we may see some totals between 60 mm and 100 mm around there as well.’’

Should it eventuate, the rainfall will come at a critical time for many of the region’s farmers.

‘‘It’s certainly a critical time of the year with crops being sown. It has been extremely dry across the state — one of the driest starts to the year and farmers desperately need rainfall,’’ Mr Efron said.

Only 5.6 mm has fallen this month to date. The average April rainfall is 35.3 mm.

January, February and last month did not fair much better with only 18.6 mm in total falling across the first quarter for the year.

This story, “Big rains forecast” from The Shepparton News.