Storms Sweep East After Soaking Queensland
Bureau of Meteorology warns of severe weather in four states following 450mm rainfall totals in the south of Queensland.
By Lucia Orlov ·
Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are set to move across most Australian states this weekend. The weather system will bring additional precipitation to a region that has already experienced extreme rainfall this week.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued warnings for severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and flash flooding in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. The agency also maintained nine flood warnings for southern Queensland.
Senior meteorologist David Crock stated that severe storms are expected in central and eastern Queensland on Saturday. Affected areas include Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg, the Sunshine Coast hinterlands, and Roma. Crock noted that the south-east is seeing substantial rain alongside widespread showers across the state.
The forecast extends to parts of Victoria, including Melbourne's eastern suburbs, as well as central and eastern South Australia. In Tasmania, heavy rain is predicted to develop overnight into Sunday morning. A cold front is scheduled to cross New South Wales on Sunday, bringing severe thunderstorms to the west of the state, north-eastern Victoria, Sydney, and Brisbane.
Crock described the conditions as similar to summer months like January or February rather than the current season. The pattern involved persistent moisture drawing large amounts of rain over seven to ten days across Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Several areas in Queensland received more than double their average October rainfall in just a few days. The Sunshine Coast hinterlands and Caboolture recorded seven-day totals between 300mm and 400mm, with some locations reaching 450mm. The heaviest falls occurred on Thursday, when torrential rain stretched from Caboolture south to the Border Ranges, with some places receiving well over 200mm.
The downpour caused flash flooding and water rescues. The State Emergency Service received hundreds of calls for help, and several schools closed on Friday. The Queensland fire department conducted more than 16 swift-water rescues. In one incident, crews used a raft to reach an elderly man clinging to the roof of his vehicle at Caboolture.
Source: The Guardian
