The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting more wet weather and thunderstorms to continue in eastern parts of Australia as a system is developing across central Australia, picking up moisture as it tracks east. Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore warned the system would deliver widespread heavy falls with 25mm – 50mm across much of eastern and south-eastern Australia with isolated falls of up to 100mm possible. Severe thunderstorms are expected up and down the east coast with large hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall forecast. Tropical rain is expected to start impacting northern Victoria with heavy rain expected to return for the rest of the state over the weekend and into next week.

Meanwhile, consumers are being warned grocery prices could spike around the country as floods hit farms and businesses in Victoria. Rabobank senior food and agriculture analyst Michael Harvey said the current decade-high food inflation is expected to continue for longer because of the floods. Dairy farmers in the north of Victoria are reportedly discarding milk from cows that are standing in leg-high water. There are also reports that hundreds of bales of hay and thousands of litres of milk are being thrown out as trucks can’t reach them due to the destruction of roads.