Heavy rains and brutal winds: wild weather batters Maranoa

Winds of up to 69km/h lashed Roma on Saturday in a weekend of wild weather that caused chaos across the Maranoa region. SEE THE VIDEO.

Muckadilla residents have taken to social media to share photos and video of damage left behind by high winds and heavy rains that battered the Maranoa region at the weekend.

At the Mucka Pub, powerful wind gusts tore up a tent shade and sent wooden barrels flying, with the shocking event captured on video.

Fortunately, owner Christy Coomber says the pub was left mostly unscathed, with some damage being done to nearby trees.

“I have no idea how no one was hurt,” she says. “We are all very lucky in that respect.”

Elsewhere in town, sheds were torn up and sent flying by high winds.

Shed fragments are strewn in a tree after heavy rains and fast winds battered the Maraona region. October 31, 2021. Photo by Jaimi Turnbull

In Roma, video captured by residents showed limbs being torn from trees as the high wind whipped through the town.

Roma recorded 8.8mm of rain on Sunday, which the Bureau of Meterology said was the second-largest single-day dump all month.

The downpour began shortly after 4pm, and built up over the next hour.

By 5pm, the wind speed was as high as 69km/h.

It was those winds that wreaked havoc on the Eric Burey Memorial Rifle Range in Muckadilla, which lost its target shed in the storm.

Western District Rifle Association general secretary Fred Hewitt said shooting events would have to be postponed as a result.

“I’m yet to get out and see the damage, and work out what can be salvaged,” he says.

“It’s still too wet to start work.”

That might not soon change, either.

A fresh warning from BOM forecasts severe storms in parts of Maranoa on Monday.

Concentrated around Charleville and Adavale, the storm system might cause flash flooding and further damaging winds when it passes through in the afternoon, BOM warns.

⚠️🌩️ A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for #MaranoaWarrego district, as slow moving storms develop in the region. Main concern is heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding, with Bonella receiving 30mm in the last half hour. See warnings: https://t.co/FBmpsInT9opic.twitter.com/y9V5oHTQqt

— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) November 1, 2021

Maranoa residents are encouraged to call the SES on 132 500 if there is an emergency.