Bureau issues flash flood, storm warning for Cairns
Weather experts have urged Cairns residents to be aware of changing weather and prepare for possible flash flooding and thunderstorm activity amid the expected dumping of more rain.
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Weather experts have urged Cairns residents to be aware of changing weather and prepare for possible flash flooding and thunderstorm activity amid the expected dumping of more rain.
The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a high chance of showers at Cairns for the remainder of Wednesday.
Heading into Thursday there will be an 80 per cent chance of up to 20mm falling.
Much of the north was included in a severe thunderstorm outlook issued by the Bureau on Wednesday morning.
Bureau forecaster Steve Hadley said while the Far North wouldn’t be included in a formal thunderstorm alert on Wednesday, rain, thunder and blustery conditions were likely.
“While there is no expectation for large hail we do have the chance of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall,” he said.
The #monsoon continues across northern Australia, with widespread rain, thunderstorms, and flooding. Warnings are current, with further heavy falls possible over coming days across the #Kimberley and the Gulf of Carpentaria.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) January 4, 2023
Latest warnings: https://t.co/4W35o8i7wJpic.twitter.com/meZQkT5u6N
“From Kuranda, west to the Gulf and up to the Cape as far as Laura, is at the most risk.
“There will be a bit of lightning and probably strong winds, it could be pretty blustery and the risk of damaging wind gusts is there, but lower than the risk of heavy rainfall and flash flooding.
“Over the next few days there’s an increased risk in Cairns and on the coast. For today (Wednesday) it’s the thunderstorms and from tomorrow (the risk is) heavy rainfall and flash flooding.
“It’s bang on expectations. This looks like a pretty good run of an active monsoon. It’s January and this is when it happens but people need to take notice that the weather is different to the past few weeks.
🌧ï¸The monsoon has delivered widespread rainfall over northern Qld in the last week, with parts of the Peninsula seeing more than 300mm. Numerous flood warnings & watches current, and further rain is forecast over coming days. https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o#ifitsfloodedforgetitpic.twitter.com/JiC1S09Wjk
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 3, 2023
“And people need to be aware of the risk associated with that change in weather.”
A slow start to the wet season meant a December rainfall total at Cairns Airport of 312mm fell mostly toward the end of the month to total well above the mean rainfall figure of 182.1mm.
Tracking toward a January monthly rainfall average of 402.4mm, to date this month 29.4mm has fallen at the Cairns Airport.
In 1981 the highest rainfall ever recorded in January at the Cairns Airport totalled 1417.4mm.
Cairns can expect a high chance of showers for the remainder of the week peaking on Thursday and Friday with an 80 per cent chance.
According to Cairns Regional Council Copperlode Dam is at 85.8 per cent capacity and Sunwater recorded the Tinaroo Dam level at 78.14 per cent on Wednesday.
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