Dire warnings for the entire state to prepare for a super storm that could put lives at risk were appropriate, even though the worst of the storm missed western Victoria and Melbourne instead drenching the state's north-east, the Victorian head of the weather bureau says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The super storm dumped up to 200mm of rain near Euroa, about 175km north-east of Melbourne, as officials urged residents in the township, as well as further east in Myrtleford, to consider evacuating.
State weather bureau manager Dr Andrew Tupper said they would do it again if faced with a similar weather pattern.
Coming up with an accurate weather prediction up to four days in advance of a storm was always difficult, he said, and not unlike forecasting the location and speed of a tropical cyclone, where forecasts can often change.
"The way that this has panned out is essentially very similar to what we were predicting," he said.
"I guess the good news is, from the Melbourne perspective in particular and those in western Victoria, the event hasn't affected that area as much.
"But, despite all the disruption of preparation - we know that events have been cancelled and people have put in a lot of work - it was certainly the kind of event worth preparing for.
"So, if we had our time again, yes, we would put out an event with similar language to that."
On Thursday, Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Scott Williams warned: "It is an event that poses a threat to life, there will be a massive amount of lightning, there will be roads cut, flood waters."
Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley also said it was still appropriate to issue warnings for the entire state.
"We've done, with the forecast that was put to us, the best we can to warn the whole of the Victorian community, because there was rain across Victoria, and I think we've done that," he said.