Rain and thunderstorms provided some parts of central Queensland with their best rain in over a year in recent days.

A trough amplified by cold and unstable upper level air combined with moist easterly winds to generate widespread rain and thunderstorms over central parts of the state.

In a 24 hour period yesterday more than 21,000 cloud to ground lightning strikes sparked within a 500km radius of Blackall. Many of these occurred on Sunday night which treated residents to a fantastic lightning show, on top of some healthy rain.

Springsure recorded an impressive 58mm in the 24 hours to 9am, the best rain the town has seen since February last year. Lochington collected 60mm, its heaviest rain in ten months while 39mm fell at Emerald, its biggest September fall in sixteen years.

More lighter rain was falling yesterday as the began to break down. 

“The rain is fantastic news for the region for which large parts are drought declared, although the falls are unlikely to be drought breakers,” Weatherzone’s Ben McBurney saud.

“The state’s west is particularly in need, with Longreach only seeing 128.6mm so far this year, well short of the average of 335.9mm typically seen by this time of the year.

“While only light showers will linger on Tuesday and Wednesday, another trough brings the risk of further showers and thunderstorms on Thursday, mainly in the state’s south with rainfall totals likely to be significantly lighter.”

See Beef Central’s weekly rainfall wrap up tomorrow

Source: Weatherzone