Wild weather has caused “absolute carnage” across parts of Victoria, but worse could be still to come with evacuation warnings for areas where floodwaters are rapidly rising.

Emergency authorities are strongly recommending residents, workers and holiday-makers in the Traralgon Creek area evacuate after parts of West Gippsland recorded rainfall totals over 270mm.

There are major flood warnings across the West Gippsland catchment including the Avon, Macalister, Thomson, and Latrobe rivers.

But those already in a safe place are urged to stay put for the next 48 to 72 hours, when most of the flooding is expected to move through communities.

West and south Gippsland had been particularly hard hit dealing not only with intense rain and flash flooding, but also with major river flooding and destructive winds, emergency service meteorologist Kevin Parkin said.

“Many people would have woken up this morning and seen absolute carnage out there,” he said.

While temperatures also dived in Queensland, visitors who flocked to the Granite Belt hoping to catch a glimpse of snow were disappointed.

The bureau is still forecasting possible snow flurries in the far south of the state, particularly elevated areas of the Granite Belt.

While senior meteorologist Laura Boekel said that temperatures below the cloud layer were low enough for snow to remain a possibility until Friday, lack of moisture was the “main hindrance”.

In NSW, the regional towns of Orange in the state’s central west and Oberon in the central tablelands have been turned into winter wonderlands.

The cold snap has brought widespread snow in the ranges, with the Perisher Valley receiving a dump of about half a metre.