Victorian coastal towns warned of flooding as abnormally high tides forecast
Coastal towns across Victoria are bracing for possible flooding as abnormally high tides threaten to inundate low-lying areas.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting tides "well above" the normal high tide mark on Monday and Tuesday, along with damaging winds.
Authorities said tides would rise during the afternoons and evenings, with the highest tides forecast to hit on Tuesday.
BOM meteorologist Belinda House said the ocean surge was being driven by strong coastal winds and a strong low-pressure system.
"We have got so much wind and a strong low pressure system pushing in, so it is going to be elevating those tides," she said.
Ms House said south-westerly winds forecast would likely push water on shore on Tuesday.
Warnings are in place for East, West and South Gippsland, South West, and Central forecast districts.
Tides are forecast to reach 1.6 metres above the the Australian Height Datum (AHD) at Cape Portland, and 0.9m at the Lakes Entrance tide gauge.
The State Emergency Service (SES) is preparing for wild weather, with sandbag stations opening in flood-prone areas.
In Gippsland, volunteers will man sandbag filling collection points in Lakes Entrance and Manns Beach from 11am.
SES volunteer Kate Turner said the service was on stand-by.
"We will ask people to take only what they need to ensure their is enough for the community," she said.
"Sandbags and shovels will be provided but if residents could bring their own gloves and transport their own sandbag."
In south-west Victoria, SES crews have been on alert since Thursday.
South West Region operations manager for unit support Steve McDowell urged residents to remain vigilant.
"We're asking drivers to drive to the conditions if the wind does pick up later today … slow down, as trees will come down unexpectedly," he said.
Crews are monitoring vulnerable coastal areas including south Warrnambool, Port Fairy and near Portland.
"It just depends how high this tide is when it comes in," he said.
Mr McDowell said crews were ready to prepare sandbags as needed.
University of Melbourne coastal geomorphologist David Kennedy said storms and high tides had coincided.
"That's the really big problem … it's getting up to the highest tides we actually experience," Professor Kennedy told ABC Victoria Statewide Mornings.
"We've then got the storm surge, the waves, the wind … and then you've got the low water pressure system sucking the [ocean] water up underneath, that can add sometimes a metre on top [of a high tide].
Professor Kennedy said the weather would likely result in coastal erosion.
"You hope the big storm doesn't happen with the big tides, but it's bound to coincide," he said.
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