MONTHS of rain in northwestern Victoria have sent stream flows into areas scorched by drought for over a decade.
The Grampians and nearby areas have been drenched in the past three months with as much as 300mm of rain - at least 50mm to 100mm above average.
Catchments are now soaking wet and stream flows have broken a 13-year record by snaking into areas that have not seen water since 1996.
The Wimmera River near Horsham has been sending stream flows all the way through to Lake Hindmarsh.
"We've had so much doom and despair," said Horsham Mayor Bernard Gross. "That many people thought we'd never see the river flow again - but it's happening."
Farmers are expecting good hauls of canola and cereal grains as their crops soak up all the unexpected water, Mr Gross said.
"Now it's just a small flow, but the water had gone right through to Lake Hindmarsh, which many thought would never happen again."
The weather bureau is forecasting a chance of more rain in the area next week when a low pressure system moves in.
But residents shouldn't rejoice just yet.
Senior forecaster Scott Williams said the rare stream flows weren't surprising considering the deluge of recent rain, but yearly rainfall totals across the state was still at or well below average.
"We wouldn't classify this an end of a drought, but say it's taken a bit of a holiday," he said.
