Warnings still in place for flash flooding as Proserpine Airport reopens
The previously evacuated Proserpine Airport is back in business and more roads across the Mackay and Whitsundays reopened on Saturday, but rising river and rain warnings remain for the already soaked stretch of Qld coast. LATEST.
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Lighter rain has allowed Proserpine Airport to re-open again as floodwaters subside across the Mackay-Whitsundays region.
Qantas is running complimentary flights for passengers who had their trips cancelled yesterday due to flooding with traffic control opening up a lane of the Bruce Highway outside Lethebrook.
Community Service Officer at the Bureau of Meteorology Daniel Hayes said warnings for the Pioneer River had been downgraded with a moderate warning for the Connors and Isaac Rivers still in place.
“(The rain) been quite a bit lighter really for the most part,” he said.
The Bells Gully bridge on Queens Road, Bowen remained under water on Saturday morning but the Hamilton Plains roadway and the Don River crossing at the Inverdon Road Bridge which were severely flooded on Friday, had reopened.
Mackay recorded just 15mm of rain overnight with areas inland towards Finch Hatton receiving 30-40mm of rain.
“It’s looking fairly light in Mackay today,” Mr Hayes said.
“We still have onshore flow just off the south of Mackay due to a high-pressure ridge.”
Further West, Moranbah copped a moderate 34mm overnight and showers are expected to continue into Sunday.
Bowen to Proserpine received smaller falls under the 25mm range easing traffic conditions as one lane of the Bruce Highway reopened near Lethebrook where delays were still expected.
“The heavier stuff on the radar is still a bit offshore but we’ve still got that forecast of more potential heavy rain for the day and into tomorrow up towards Bowen and Proserpine.”
There’s no major flooding in Burdekin River as of yet but a major flood warning has been made for the Burdekin Falls which copped 75mm of rain in the past 24 hours.
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Originally published as Warnings still in place for flash flooding as Proserpine Airport reopens
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