Coliban Water storages in the southern regiown have reached their highest levels for more than five years, with forecasts of more rain in the coming days.

Central Victoria has received above-average rainfall for each of the past six months, and the weather bureau has predicted another 30mm towards the weekend as two major storm fronts make their way across the Loddon Mallee.

Duty forecaster Stuart Coombs said the second of the two storms would bring a cold snap to the region and possible hailstorm on Sunday.

Coliban Water managing director Gavin Hanlon said the region had received almost 800 millimetres of rainfall to date, and that catchments were in an optimal condition to maximise run-off into storage areas through the remainder of winter and into spring.

The rainfall is well above the long-term average of 722 millimetres.

But the water authority stopped short of announcing a date to lift restrictions and will instead play it safe in case dry conditions return.

“Our position is to maintain two years’ supply in reserve and ease water restrictions when it is responsible to do so,” Mr Hanlon said.

“At present, all indications are looking promising and a continuation of good rainfall and inflows could see an allocation to all our rural customers and an easing of restrictions in the Castlemaine and Kyneton area.”

He said rainfall during the remainder of the year would be critical as the company closely monitors its storage situation to potentially provide a general 30 per cent rural allocation this year.

For the first two months of winter 180 millimetres of rainfall has fallen – 20 millimetres above the average for June and July. The Coliban storages near Malmsbury now hold 21,700 million litres or 29 per cent capacity.

“The above-average rainfall in autumn of 192 millimetres was an ideal lead-up into the winter-spring period, keeping the catchment wet to maximise run-off when we traditionally receive 90 to 95 per cent of our annual inflow into our storages,’’ Mr Hanlon said.

“This is the best end of July figure since July 2005 when our storages held 24,700 million litres. These storages have risen 6000 million litres since the end of May this year.’’

A total of 6300 million litres of inflow has been received since March this year, still well below the long -term average for the same period of 17,000 million litres.