Saturated regions cop yet more downpours
Sodden parts of north Queensland face yet more rain, with a severe weather warning for downpours of up to 200 millimetres.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings for the Central West and Channel Country, Central and south-western Queensland, the north-west and Maranoa and Warrego Districts.
More than 100 millimetres of rain is forecast in the next 24 hours with some isolated areas expecting more than 200 millimetres.
Paluma on the North Tropical Coast had the highest 24-hour totals to Tuesday morning, with gauges hitting 124 millimetres.
Meteorologists have forecast flooding for Queensland’s river networks in the coming days. Warnings are current for the central and western districts and some rivers in the North Tropical Coast and Herbert and Lower Burdekin.
In the state’s south-west, a major flood warning was current for the Bulloo River early on Tuesday.
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The flooded Bulloo River at Quilpie on Tuesday morning. Photo: Facebook/Roger Volz
“Some nice rain since… yesterday morning… another 122 millimetres, which makes 182 millimetres since Saturday afternoon,” Roger Volz wrote on Facebook on Tuesday morning.
“Bulloo River is 1.51 metres over the road deck of the bridge… not going anywhere for a while. Still raining and a lot more water coming down the river too.”
There are also minor flood warnings for Barcoo and Georgina Rivers, and Eyre Creek, which crosses into the Northern Territory.
Forecaster Weatherzone said on Monday some areas might get a year’s worth of rain this week, bringing widespread floods as heavy falls hit eastern Queensland, NSW, the Northern Territory and South Australia.
The downpours are expected to fill Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre in coming weeks.
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BOM senior meteorologist Angus Hines said on Tuesday thunderstorms and rain with heavy falls were expected to continue across Queensland well into the weekend before contracting.
“Between now and then parts of inland Queensland could see in excess of 300 millimetres of rain, which is extremely high for areas which typically run quite dry,” he said.
“Away from these central regions, widespread rainfall totals between 50 and 150 millimetres are expected almost anywhere in the state.”
Consistent rainfall in parts of north Queensland comes after the region was battered in February by record-breaking deluge that triggered floods, forced hundreds to evacuate and claimed two lives.
Ingham, in the Hinchinbrook catchment, was one of the worst hit. Its substation was inundated after the nearby Herbert River broke a record flood level set back in 1967.
In early March, south-east Queensland and northern NSW bore the brunt of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred that left more than 200,000 people without power.
The cyclone was the first in more than 50 years to hit Queensland’s south-east.
Meanwhile, there are heatwave conditions in parts of Western Australia.
Perth hit a “late-season temperature record” on Monday, Hines said, reaching 40.1 degrees.
“It’s never been this hot this far into autumn,” he said.
“Perth is looking at four more days of 35 degrees or higher for the remainder of this week.”
Carnarvon, Geraldton and Perth Airport also broke late-season temperature records.
