‘It’s bizarre’: Tully rainfall totals break records set in December floods as floodwater lap at pub’s doorstep

Heavy rain is expected to ease in Tully and surrounding areas following a record deluge while a nearby publican is feeling an eerie sense of de ja vu.

Hotel Euramo publican, Ollie Muzik, is feeling an eerie sense of de ja vu with floodwaters almost lapping at the bush pub's entrance as the did during the December floods. Image: Supplied.

Heavy rain is expected to ease in Tully and surrounding areas after rainfall totals overnight broke records previously set in the December floods.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Shane Kennedy said the worst of Tully’s sudden and severe weather was over after 24 hour rainfall totals in four areas reached record breaking highs.

“Tropical Queensland does get a lot of wet weather but it was a significant amount of rain,” Mr Kennedy said.

Tully rain station recorded a 24 hour rainfall total of 428mm, beating the previous record set in the December floods flowing ex-cyclone Jasper.

Euramo and Murray Flats rain stations also recorded record highs in the early hours of this morning while Bulgan Creek rain station broke its record for February rainfall totals in 24 hours.

Pictured here during the Far North floods in December, the Euramo Hotel is right between the Tully and Murray rivers, and is renowned for flooding. Locals take a boat directly from home to the hotel for a beer when the water rises. Picture: Supplied

Hotel Euramo publican Ollie Muzic said while the rain had passed, floodwaters were still rising near her business in the early evening on Saturday.

“It’s a river flowing out the front of our pub,” Ms Muzic said. “We are just sitting here watching the water flow past.

“It’s not like December 16 (when the last flood occurred) but I do believe it could get there. We’re probably four inches off at the moment.

“Come about three o’clock this afternoon the water crossed the road and it came really quickly.

“It’s bizarre. The sun is shining but the water is still coming towards us.”

Visitors in town had been urged to leave or risk being trapped, Ms Muzik said.

“We had five car loads that we sent to Cardwell because we can’t accommodate them,” she said.

“We can give them all the food and all the grog in the world but they would have been stuck here.

“There are some truckies with nowhere to go at the service station just down the road too.”

Hotel Euramo created international headlines during last December’s floods when dozens of patrons took to their tinnies and cruised over floodwaters to the bush pub for a hard earned beer.

“I don’t think it’ll happen tonight,” Ms Muzik said.

“People are very clever here. They don’t put themselves in danger at night time.

“It may happen tomorrow. We’ll see.”

Mr Kennedy said rainfall in the region had significantly decreased since 9am on Saturday morning.

“Most of the rain has started to move further south,” Mr Kennedy said.

“Things have definitely dropped right down in terms of rainfall, since 9am, 30mm was recorded at Euramo station, 14mm at Tully transfer station and only 8mm at Tully station.”

Although Mr Kennedy said rain was still likely for most of the Far North over the next two days.

“We’re not expecting severe thunderstorms into Sunday but there is still a chance in the mix,” he said.

“It does look like most of danger has passed but we are still likely to see some falls between the 10 to 30mm range, although most will be in the 5 to 10mm range.”

A moderate flood warning for the Tully River and the Murray River still stands; however, levels are beginning to peak, according to the BOM.

“Tully River at Euramo is at 8.65m, moderate flooding is at 8m, and it is expected to be pretty close to the peak level,” Mr Kennedy said.

“There was a moderate peak at Murray River ealier today but it is now going down.

“Luckily, when we see fast rising levels, we usually see fast drops.”

Originally published as ‘It’s bizarre’: Tully rainfall totals break records set in December floods as floodwater lap at pub’s doorstep