On 23 March , the Bureau of Meteorology ( BoM ) estimated Statement peak 10-minute sustained winds of 220 km/h ( 140 mph ) .

Kevin Parkyn , a senior forecaster with the Bureau of Meteorology said Statement , `` Victoria is experiencing Perception_active one of its worst flood events in its history '' after `` a week in which rainfall totals have been smashed Destroying in parts of Victoria . ''

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Terry Ryan said Statement , `` It 's the worst flood in western Victoria in their history as far as our records go in terms of the depth of water and the number of places affected Influence . ''

In advance of Winifred 's approach Arriving , the Australian Bureau of Meteorology ( BoM ) issued Expressing_publicly cyclone Catastrophe watches and warnings Warning for various locations along the Queensland coast , prompting Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale evacuations Emptying in several towns .

The Bureau of Meteorology ( BoM ) was subject to heavy criticism Judgment_communication in the days following the storm Catastrophe 's landfall Arriving , accused Judgment_communication of not giving Giving ample warning Warning in advance of Winifred 's approach Arriving ; however , these concerns Quarreling were later addressed Statement in its report Reporting on the cyclone Catastrophe 's impact Influence .

The storm Catastrophe gradually drifted Motion southwestward and later southward under low wind shear , strengthening Cause_change_of_strength enough to be assigned Choosing the name `` Bobby '' by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology ( BoM ) .