WEEKLY rainfall totals greater than 100mm were recorded in the central north of Victoria and northern Tasmania, with some north-west parts of Tasmania recording over 200mm.

Large parts of south-east Australia, the south-west coast of Western Australia and small parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory received weekly totals of at least 25mm.

A low pressure system south of the mainland linked up with tropical moisture during the middle of the week, forming an extensive, slow-moving rain band over south-east Australia.

On the 13th and 14th, many October daily rainfall records were exceeded across sites in central and northern Victoria, and in northern Tasmania.

The highest weekly total (at a bureau gauge) of 280.2mm was recorded at Mount Barrow, Tasmania. This site also recorded the highest daily total during the week of 188.8mm in the 24 hours to 9am on 14 October.

The rain falling on already wet catchments resulted in many major and moderate flood warnings were issued for catchments across central and northern Victoria, northern Tasmania, New South Wales and southern Queensland.