BOM Mackay Whitsunday Isaac forecast floods, cyclones for 2022 summer

There are fears many could be priced out of insurance as the bureau issues a warning for ‘extreme’ weather including widespread flooding and higher than average cyclones.

As Queenslanders are being urged to snap out of summertime complacency, a forecast of above average number of cyclones and widespread flooding has some shuddering over memories.

Bureau of Meteorology’s Danny Teece-Johnson said there’s a 70 per cent chance the La Nina would give Queensland more than its average of four cyclones per year.

“With those east coast lows and tropical cyclones, there’s also widespread massive rainfall,” Mr Teece-Johnson said, adding there was “extreme risk” of “huge” widespread flooding across the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region.

He said there would likely be “day after day of wind and rain” and while a La Nina would drop overall high temperatures, they would be replaced with persistent humid, sticky weather.

For residents like Proserpine’s Chris Hinschen, the forecast revived memories of Cyclone Debbie’s wrath.

Proserpine resident Chris Hinschen said she had to switch insurers after a price hike following Cyclone Debbie. a Picture: Heidi Petith

“At the moment, I’m just replacing an airconditioner because during the Cyclone (Debbie), the drains all filled up and it ran though the airconditioner,” Ms Hinschen said.

“We’ve been through quite a few cyclones, mostly they come in, blow over and go, but this cyclone was 17 hours long.

“It caused a lot of anguish for people, they got more and more frightened as it lengthened out.”

“It was quite ferocious.”

Cyclone Debbie damage in Proserpine. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Ms Hinschen, who has lived in Proserpine for 59 years, said the wild weather had caused insurance premiums to skyrocket, with a tidal surge having flooded the downstairs of her second home at Wilsons Beach.

“Nearly every house had sustained a lot of damage,” she said.

“I remember saving a thousand dollars on the two houses when we swapped (insurance) … I think they (the companies) are going to just keep going up (in price).

“I think a lot of people are going to be insured because they just can’t afford it.

“It’s very sad.”

Damage to Hamilton Island from Cyclone Debbie. Photo: Liam Kidston

Mr Teece-Johnson said this summer would be a more typical cyclone season than what had been subdued under the now-gone El Nino.

He said the BOM was urged residents to prepare early including getting an evacuation plan ready.

“We have it at the ready all the time,” Ms Hinschen said.

For more information, residents can access Emergency Dashboards available on their respective councils’ websites which include updated weather warnings and Emergency Action Guides.

See https://disaster.mackay.qld.gov.au/ if you are in Mackay, http://disaster.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au/ for those living in the Whitsundays, and https://dashboard.isaac.qld.gov.au/ for residents in the Isaac region.