Soaking start for Melbourne, rain forecast through the week

3 days ago 5

A soaking start to the week is forecast, with up to 45 millimetres of rain expected to fall across the city ahead of the Melbourne Cup.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting there will be fairly constant rain across Melbourne on Monday, with the wet weather expected to continue through the week.

Melbourne experienced a wet start to the week on Monday morning.

Senior meteorologist Helen Reid said Monday was expected to reach a top of 16 degrees, with rainfalls of between 40 and 45 millimetres.

“It’s going to be fairly steady during the day but if you’re gutters are not cleared, then … it will become a little bit more problematic, but we’re not expecting it to be a downpour,” Reid said.

“It will be a fairly wet day everywhere.”

Reid warned people in low-lying areas to be vigilant, but the lack of heavy rains meant it was unlikely for there to be flash floods.

“If there are any blocked waterways then it could become an issue,” Reid said.

Unfortunately for racegoers, the wet conditions are expected to continue into Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday, with rainfalls of up to 10 millimetres expected.

“It’s not going to be such a good day tomorrow if you’re out and about,” Reid said.

There would also be a south-westerly wind blowing across the city on Tuesday afternoon.

“[Racegoers] should hang on to their hats,” Reid warned.

The wet weather is set to continue into Wednesday and Thursday, but Reid said the showers would be easing.

“It’ll be a couple of showers, and then we’ll have a slightly warmer day on Thursday and into Friday,” the senior meteorologist said.

According to the bureau, the last three months of the year tend to be the wettest for Melbourne.

One of the wettest Melbourne Cups was recorded in 1976, when 24.8 millimetres fell across the day, much of it in a poorly timed torrent.

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