'Intense rainfall': 300mm deluge expected over six hours as roads blocked
North and Far North Queensland are still feeling the brunt of what was a tropical cyclone with falls of up to 300mm in six hours possible.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning on Tuesday for heavy rainfall and locally destructive winds for Herbert and Lower Burdekin and parts of North Tropical Coast, and Tablelands and Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders.
“Six-hourly rainfall totals between 150mm to 200mm are possible,” the BOM said.
“Periods of localised intense rainfall leading to life threatening flash flooding with six-hourly totals of 300mm about the coast and ranges in the warning area are also possible.”
Gulf Development Road, which connects the west side of northern Queensland to the east, was pictured inundated on Monday with nearby Normanton receiving 262mm in the 24 hours leading up to Monday 9am AEST.
The system, which is now a tropical low, is slowly moving towards Townsville and Cairns.
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Weatherzone meteorologist Felix Levesque told Yahoo News Australia Cairns and Townsville could see up to 200mm in the 24 hours leading up to 9am Wednesday.
“It’ll be mostly around Townsville which could receive 200-300mm,” he said.
“We’re seeing some pretty impressive rainfall totals but probably not a record.
“In 1998, Townsville received 550mm in 24 hours.”
North Queensland inundated, more rain to come
Areas north of Townsville including Innisfail have already received more than 150mm in the 24 hours leading up to 9am Tuesday.
The RACQ said 88 roads have been closed due to flooding and urged people to “please avoid travel”.
Unfortunately, the wet weather isn’t forecast to stop anytime soon.
Innisfail, Townsville and Cairns forecast for showers and storms until next Monday.
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