A low-pressure system developed over central Victoria early on Thursday 13 December 2018, prompting a severe weather warning for heavy rain to be issued for most of the state. The low-pressure system generated severe thunderstorms in Victoria’s north-west, with a month’s worth of rain falling over parts of northern Victoria during the 48 hours to 9.00am on 14 December.

Flood warnings were issued 300 km to the east for Wangaratta, Byawatha, Peechelba, Markwood, Everton, Carboor, Moyhu and surrounding areas, including the Hume Highway. Relief centres for those evacuating flood-affected properties in the area were opened in Wangaratta, Chiltern and Wodonga. Later that day, 41.2 millimetres of rain fell in Melbourne, most of it in a 20-minute period after 5.00pm.

The SES received 1,736 requests for assistance, and 73 rescues were performed over 13–16 December, working with emergency management partners to support impacted communities. Many sites in Victoria had their highest December daily rainfall on record over 13–14 December, or their highest total December rainfall on record.

The rain and associated flooding caused significant damage to residential and commercial properties and public infrastructure across Victoria. Joint Commonwealth–State disaster recovery assistance was subsequently made available to facilitate community recovery and ensure damaged public infrastructure was restored as soon as possible in nine local government areas across northern Victoria.