How wild North Queensland weather will impact Toowoomba

This time last year Toowoomba was rocked by destructive storms. With parts of North Queensland now facing horror floods, here’s what the Darling Downs can expect for the summer forecast ahead.

While wild weather continues to smash North Queensland, residents of the Darling Downs can be rest assured it will have no serious impact on Toowoomba and the surrounds.

The Bureau of Meteorology community information officer Danny Johnson said the current weather system in Mackay and the Whitsundays was moving north.

“It will be pretty dry in Toowoomba this week until the system enters from late Thursday,” he said.

“Then there is a slight chance we may see some showers and thunderstorms possibly return to the region.

“On Friday we could see anywhere up to 3mm of rain and a slight chance of a thunderstorm.”

Thibault & Donaldson showroom manager Emily Scott spent days clearing thousands of items out from the store to go either in the tip or the sun after the shop was inundated in the destructive storm in January 2022. Picture: Jordan Philp

Mr Johnson said while it had been a pretty standard summer for Toowoomba with the average temperature for January usually reaching 28.4 degrees, it would start to heat up again by the end of the week.

Thursday is predicted to be the hottest day this week, reaching three degrees above average with a maximum of 31.

The community information officer said while the chances of severe summer storms were uncertain, the outlook indicated it would be a “wetter than average summer”.

This time last year, Toowoomba was hit hard by several storms which left a wave of destruction and losses of millions for various businesses in the CBD.

Flooded roads and cane fields alone Walkerston – Homebush Road in Mackay, Queensland. Photo: Zoe Devenport

It comes after a staggering amount of rain hit North Queensland this week, with 1000mm recorded at Finch Hatton and more than 700mm at Mount Jukes, north of Mackay.

While there are currently no reports of homes being affected, an emergency weather alert was issued to the Mackay region, with residents asked to prepare for floodwaters.

A 31-year-old Nebo man also sadly died after his vehicle rolled during the severe weather conditions.

“We continue to see significant road closures through the entire region (and) creeks and rivers are rising and falling very rapidly,” Acting Premier Steven Miles said.