Extreme rainfall makes Flinders River a ‘mega river’ 60 km (37 miles) wide, Australia
Image credit: NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP/VIIRS
After days of extremely heavy rain falling over Queensland, Australia this month, Flinders River has grown to a 'mega river' and is now 60 km (37 miles) wide in some of its parts. This is its most significant flooding in more than 50 years and so vast it creates its own weather.
The sheer size of the swollen river is why up to 500 000 cattle had perished, meteorologist Rob Sharpe said.
"The amount of rainfall has been staggering. Above 500 mm (19.68 inches) of rain spread across a vast region 300 km (186 miles) across and 200 km (124 miles) north. A year’s worth of rain fell in one week and that’s a record flood event for the Flinders River," Sharpe told news.com.au. "The Flinders River system is now a flood plain. This is a mega river making its way up to the gulf."
Flinders River, Queensland, Australia on February 14, 2019. Credit: NASA Aqua/MODIS
Flinders River, Queensland, Australia on February 14, 2019. Credit: NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP/VIIRS
Flinders River, Queensland, Australia on February 14, 2019. Credit: ESA/Sentinel-2
Flinders River, Queensland, Australia on February 14, 2019. Credit: NASA Aqua/MODIS
Flinders River, Queensland, Australia on February 14, 2019. Credit: ESA/Sentinel-2
The flood so vast it creates its own weather, BOM Queensland reports.
"The extra moisture from the flooding in helped this thunderstorm form this morning. It can be seen following the path of the flood waters very closely, thankfully falls were isolated."
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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