A low pressure system heading towards Victoria will move through the Mallee tonight, bringing with it heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash-flooding.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Scott Williams said thunderstorms would develop in the Wimmera and Mallee districts in the early evening.

“We’re talking about local falls of at least 20 to 50mm and some isolated 75mm – 100mm is not out of the question with this,” he said.

“It’s a very moist air mass and there could be severe storms in this and that includes areas at risk like Mildura, Swan Hill down to Horsham and perhaps as far south-east as Bendigo in the overnight period.”

A severe weather warning is in place for most of the central Victorian region and all of western Victoria, with heavy rainfall predicting to begin falling in the afternoon and into Thursday.

Mr Williams said the low pressure system would sit over the region for at least a day, with the stormy weather continuing into next week.

“It will gradually warm up over the weekend and into next week but will remain muggy,” he said.

“We’ve seen a big change in pattern from a very cold start to November to now quite a substantial rain event for the western half of Victoria and then muggy weather going into the weekend and the first part of next week.”

The State Emergency Service advises that people should: