News

Rain forecast for south after Qld cops a drenching

Beef Central 30/01/2012

Widespread rain and thunderstorms have been forecast for Southern NSW, Victoria and Tasmania this week as moisture from a weakening low that drenched large areas of Queensland over the weekend moves south.

Parts of inland Queensland and northern New South Wales remain on flood alert after the low dropped 150-200mm of rain on Saturday.

Tomorrow's Roma store cattle sale has been cancelled as a result of the wet weather. 

Queensland’s north-west recorded some of the state’s highest totals, with Cloncurry receiving 196mm over the weekend, its highest single-day rainfall in 21 years. Record rain in the region caused floodwaters to cut the Landsborough and Flinders highways, with Winton and Mount Isa still stranded.

In Central Queensland low-lying parts of Sapphire and Springsure were evacuated on Saturday night after the latter recorded 172mm in 24 hours, the heaviest January rainfall recorded in the town.

Flood warnings also remain in place for several towns in central and southern Queensland this morning, including the major centres of Emerald and Roma, with rivers and creeks flowing strongly and more storms possible.

Major falls were also recorded in Queensland’s far south west with Cowley at Quilpie recording 146mm in 24 hours, its highest rainfall since 1884.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects the Paroo River to bring major flooding similar to the March 2010 event to north western NSW by mid-February. The falls were also expected to result in minor rural flooding along the river at Barringun from the second week of February.

Weatherzone yesterday said heavy rain was now likely for southern areas of the country.

“On Monday moisture from this weakening low will be drawn into a trough ahead of a front, bringing widespread rain and thunderstorms to southern NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Flash flooding is a possibilty.”

“From Tuesday, the trough will head east and take rain and storms across central and northern NSW and back to western Queensland. There's potential for in excess of 100mm with a good chance for further flooding. Some rain will also reach the east coast, including the recently-flooded Mid North Coast.”

Further rain could still fall in Queensland this week as a monsoon trough which is forming off the coast near Cairns develops, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

At 2am today Cyclone Iggy was close to stationary about 355km north west of Exmouth, and was not expected to make landfall, with the bureau expecting it to take a south westerly track this afternoon.
However it warned the cyclone may move close enough to the coast to cause gales between Exmouth and Coral Bay.

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