State set for deluge with up to 300mm of rain over four days
Far North Queensland is staring down another deluge with up to 300mm set to fall across the weekend.
Weatherzone meteorologist Graeme Brittain told Yahoo News Australia a tropical low developing on the North Tropical Coast and North Tablelands could produce heavy rainfall from Saturday through to Tuesday.
“It’s related to a monsoon trough,” Mr Brittain said.
“There are indications over a four-day period several hundred millimetres is possible from Townsville to north of Cooktown.”
Cairns and FNQ to cop a drenching
Cairns already received 25mm in the 24 hours leading up to 9am (AEST) Friday. Whyanbeel Valley, north of Cairns, received 96mm.
Cairns is forecast to cop up to 70mm rain on Sunday and as much as 80mm on Monday
The Bureau of Meteorology said earlier this week a monsoon trough currently lies over the Indian Ocean, extending from south of Java, Indonesia, towards the central Indian Ocean.
When the monsoon trough isn’t active in producing heavy rain it’s what the bureau calls a monsoon break.
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At the start of January Far North Queensland and areas towards the Gulf of Carpentaria were hammered by a tropical low bringing heavy rainfall.
Cairns has already received more than 370mm of rain so far this year while Mornington Island in the Gulf Country has received 176mm of which 129mm fell on January 3 alone.
Round 2! Latest models indicate a tropical low could bring upwards of 300mm to QLD's already soaked North Tropical Coast from Sunday to Tuesday. We will keep a close eye on the next round of model updates this afternoon. @SkyWeatherAUS @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/WQrBQAYh5j
— Thomas Saunders (@TomSaundersSNW) January 15, 2021
Heatwave across southern Queensland
While the top-half of Queensland can expect heavy rain in the coming days, parts of the southeast corner are currently sweltering through a heatwave.
Brisbane reached 31.9 degrees on Friday. Gatton, to the west of the city reached 34.8 degrees, The Gold Coast hit 28 degrees before midday.
The weekend should bring much of the same with the heatwave active until Sunday.
Areas near the state border with the Northern Territory are also facing severe heatwave conditions.
Doomadgee is facing three days topping 40 before some relief kicks in on Monday as the temperature tops about 38.
Further south and Camooweal is facing six consecutive days including Friday topping 40. Camooweal reached 37 on Friday just before midday.
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