Heavy rains, flooding close North Queensland roads
Flooding caused by the monsoonal deluge has closed roads in inland North Queensland.
Townsville
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Flooding caused by the monsoonal deluge has closed roads in inland North Queensland.
Heavy isolated falls have forced the closure of a number of roads west of Charters Towers, around Prairie.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads advised motorists they should not travel on the Flinders Hwy near Black Jack and Lyndhurst, Prairie Muttaburra Rd and Torver Valley Rd at Dutton River.
Charters Towers was drenched by 96mm of rain this Australia Day long weekend.
The heaviest showers fell on Sunday, when 79mm was recorded by 9am.
On Saturday night, a man in his 20s was rescued from Charters Towers after getting swept away in a drain. The man was later found alive and was taken to hospital for observation.
When you forget your raincoat at the Goldfield Ashes. pic.twitter.com/OkADztZGe3
— Matthew Elkerton (@m_elkerton) January 27, 2020
Further to the west, Mount Isa received 120.8mm of rain from Friday through to today.
The rain caused flash flooding through parts of the city, with water seen washing over roads and paths.
There is a high chance of up to 30mm of rain for Mount Isa tomorrow.
Heavy rain is expected today on the east coast between Ingham and Mackay, and inland to Charters Towers, the Bureau of Meteorology advised.
Major flooding is possible in the Lower Flinders River and Cloncurry River, the weather bureau warned.
RELATED: NQ to cop major downpour
Flood warnings remain in place for the Herbert, Black, Ross, Bohle, Burdekin and Haughton rivers.
Townsville City Council, in a statement, said steady rainfall was forecast for the next 24 to 48 hours but would not be at the same level as last year’s devastating floods.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said about 170mm of rain had fallen in the 48 hours to 9am Monday in northern parts of the city around Rollingstone and Saunders Beach.
“However, we have seen much smaller falls, around 50mm, in the dam catchment,” Cr Hill said.
“The clear advice from the Bureau is that this is a different weather system to last year’s monsoon event.
“Council officers will continue to monitor the situation and liaise with the Bureau and provide advice to Townsville residents as required.”
Ross River Dam is currently at 57 per cent, rising 1 per cent in the past 24 hours, while Paluma Dam is at 44 per cent.
Burdekin Local Disaster Management Chair Lyn McLaughlin said the group was monitoring the situation.
“We are in contact with the Watch Desk at the Flood Warning Centre. We are also in contact with the Executive of the District Disaster Management Group.
“There is a watch threat around the whole region and at present all the river readings are below minor flooding.”
“This is very welcomed rain for the shire and this weather is typical of North Queensland at this time of the year.
“There are scattered falls around the shire.”
Canegrowers Burdekin chairman Phil Marano says a mixture of wet weather in the last couple of weeks and increased sugar prices are giving growers optimism for this year.
Mr Marano said some farmers had received more rain than others.
The welcome rainfall in the Burdekin area has allowed farmers to switch off irrigation pumps for the first time since last February’s monsoon.
Mr Marano said it was the most opportune time for rain with planting still months away.
“It’s pretty good news for growers,” he said
“Last February we had way too much rain at once... we’re not there yet.”
Where the rains has fallen
- Toolakea 99mm
- Nelly Bay 99mm
- Taemas 96mm
- Gregory Springs 83mm
- North Ward 79mm
- Cungulla 67mm
- Bluewater 62mm
- Cardwell 59mm
- Eversleigh 58mm
- Rooneys Bridge 57mm
- Major Creek 56mm
- Woodbine 55mm
- Four Mile 54mm
- Alligator Creek 52mm
- Picnic Bay 51mm
- Guthalungra 51mm
Originally published as Heavy rains, flooding close North Queensland roads