Townsville expected to receive up to 400mm of rain over the next week sparking flash flooding fears
Almost 12 months since Townsville was inundated by floods, people are praying this week’s forecast deluge is nowhere near as bad as last February’s.
Townsville
Don't miss out on the headlines from Townsville. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ALMOST 12 months since Townsville was inundated by floods, people are praying this week’s forecast deluge is nowhere near as bad as last February’s.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting up to 400mm or possibly even higher for parts of North Queensland in the next week and has warned there could be flash flooding.
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Michael Knepp said severe weather and heavy rainfall was expected across North Queensland.
“There is a flood watch for the Burdekin River and catchments between Ingham and Mackay and there is a severe thunderstorm warning right now for areas inland of Ingham and Charters Towers,” Mr Knepp said.
Thomas Hinterdorfer, who helps run Higgins Storm Chasing, says the monsoon had well and truly begun.
“This set up is likely to produce day after day after day after day of rain and storms across the northern half of the state leading to rainfall accumulations building quickly,” Mr Hinterdorfer posted on his Facebook page.
“Models are indicating falls of 500mm-plus are likely over the next 10 days across the north tropical coast. This total will bounce around between Townsville and Cooktown as it’s highly dependent on where the tropical convergence lies.
“Daily totals here of 200mm-plus are possible, with 10 day totals maxing at around 800-1000mm.”
RELATED
Residents on roofs as flash flooding inundates city
Mr Hinterdorfer said isolated thunderstorms would produce heavier falls depending on where they develop.
“This kind of rainfall will lead to flooding across north west and northern inland Queensland, which will include roads being cut,” he said.
Nicole Lenahan whose family, including her three children had their home destroyed by last year’s floods, said she was worried how children would cope with another deluge.
“I’ve got the perspective of a mother, but this rain event … is happening at exactly the same time, right just before school starts, which is exactly when it happened last year,” she said.
“All the kids in the community are going to be going through the same thing – they’re buying their uniforms, they’re getting their books and it’s raining.
“They’re going to go to their first day of school and it’s raining.
“It’s not just that it’s raining again, it’s raining at exactly the same time that it did last time. Going to those schools and experiencing those same experiences, it is causing anxiety among the little ones.”
Spanish Lace Motor Inn owner Clive Petersen, whose business was ruined by last year’s floods was optimistic about the weather ahead.
“We are praying we won’t get what we got last year but at the end of the day we think that people who manage the dam might be a little wiser,” he said. “We have seen the photos on Facebook about the Leichhardt River in Mount Isa and I think it is absolutely great to see that the inland is getting rain.
“I feel confidence that it will not be like it was last year.”
Rollingstone received the most rain in the state on Saturday with 158mm drenching the town.
People had to be rescued at the weekend after being caught out by flash flooding.
On Saturday night a man in his 20s was rescued from Charters Towers after being swept away in a drain. He was found alive by a man on his property and was taken to hospital for observation.
A family of four were rescued by paramedics after they became trapped inside their car in floodwaters in Humboldt, Emerald about 5pm.
Already parts of North Queensland have been cut off because of welcome rain at the weekend.
After being in drought since 2012, Flinders Shire Council Mayor Jane McNamara was thankful for every drop of rain the region got.
Driving back from Townsville yesterday, Cr McNamara had to fly home on a helicopter after the Flinders Highway was closed because of flooding.
“I had a helicopter ride over the best area of North Queensland for Australia Day,” she said.
Cr McNamara said the ground was soaked, and if there was any more rain it was likely to flood again.
“There is no concerns,” she said.
“The wet season is coming and the inconvenience of having a few roads closed is nothing.”
Prairie Hotel Motel owner Tom Duddy got a shock yesterday when water came up to the door of his pub.
But seeing the lighter side, he grabbed his wind surfer and posed out front for a photo.
“There is an old photograph here of a bloke standing out the front with a surfboard,” Mr Duddy said.
“I said if it ever happens again, I’m going to pull the wind surfer out.”
Originally published as Townsville expected to receive up to 400mm of rain over the next week sparking flash flooding fears