Thunderstorms will roll on over Townsville

9.25AM: Another severe thunderstorm warning for residents in Townsville, Magnetic Island, Ayr, Giru and Alva Beach as one suburb recorded 85mm of rain in one hour. LATEST >>

9.25AM:

The Bureau of Meteorology has again issued a severe thunderstorm warning for residents in Townsville, Magnetic Island, Ayr, Giru and Alva Beach.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours.

85mm was recorded in one hour to 08.45am at Picnic Bay (Magnetic Island).

>> GET UNLIMITED ONLINE ACCESS FOR JUST $1 FOR 28 DAYS

9AM:

Several beaches around Townsville and Magnetic Island have been closed by Surf Lifesaving Queensland due to severe storm activity.

#Townsville severe storm activity beach closures:
- Alma Bay, #MagneticIsland
- Horseshoe Bay, #MagneticIsland
- Riverway Lagoon, #ThuringowaCentral
- #TheStrand pic.twitter.com/y6FCtDfI1u

— Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) (@lifesavingqld) January 21, 2020

7.15AM:

A severe thunderstorm warning for heavy rainfall has been issued for people in parts of Herbert and Lower Burdekin, including Townsville and Rollingstone.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Townsville.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Townsville and Rollingstone.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:

• Never drive, walk or ride through flood waters. If it’s flooded, forget it.
• Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm.
• Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.
• For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

More showers and thunderstorms are to be expected over the coming days.

Parts of Townsville were dazzled by spectacular lightshows as a storm rolled over the city on Monday night.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Lauren Pattie said rain was, however, isolated to patches outside of the city.

“(There was) a little bit of rainfall about but not in the city gauge,” she said.

Ms Pattie said most of the rain fell south of Townsville overnight on Monday.

A total of 74mm of rain was recorded at Corica Rd, west of Ayr, over seven hours yesterday while Mt Piccaninny got 56mm.

Ms Pattie said a trough sitting over Townsville would move north today and could create more isolated showers.

Temperatures are expected to rise later this week, reaching a top of 35C on Friday and Saturday.

There is a medium chance of rain for the Australia Day weekend.

Originally published as Thunderstorms will roll on over Townsville