Critical catchment areas across the northeast of the state received heavy downpours with some receiving up to 150mm.

Flash flooding over a widespread area caused chaos for much of the state.

Wind gusts of up to 70km/h roared through the Sunraysia district, stripping tree branches and bowling over garbage bins left to line Mildura streets.

Many see the wild weather signalling the end of the drought, but farmers are foregoing celebrations, as they brace for further wet weather and a looming locust plague.

However, Mallee farmers yesterday remained cautiously optimistic that the state’s swollen rivers and soaking rain may mean a shift away from the devastating decade-long drought.

Merbein South grain grower for the past 40 years, Colin Hunt, said the last three years had been “very trying,” but above average rainfall over the past 10 months had built hope of a strong harvest and promising returns for farmers.

All they had to do was keep the predicted locust plague at bay.

“I think it’s (the drought) over – for this year at least,” he said.

“We’ve certainly had a run of dry years in the noughties, with one or two good years’ in between.

“There was a lot of stress for farmers growing crops.

“After six months of sowing and harvesting they (would) just look up at the sky and realise their crops were not doing too good.”

Sunraysia Irrigators Council chairman and Merbein citrus grower Danny Lee said nationwide downpours and above-average rainfall, indicated a return to a wet weather cycle, despite differing predictions from climate change forecasters of hotter and drier conditions.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Monday’s Sunraysia Daily 06/09/2010.