Significant flooding risks in Queensland’s Central Coast, Australia
Heavy rainfall and flooding continue to impact Queensland’s Central Coast. A Severe Weather Warning is current for heavy to locally intense rainfall between Ayr and St Lawrence, and adjacent inland areas, including Mackay, Proserpine and Bowen. Many catchments in northern and central Queensland are experiencing minor to major flooding, and dangerous flash flooding remains possible.
According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, heavy rainfall and significant flooding risks continue to impact Queensland’s Central Coast on January 17, 2023.
A Severe Weather Warning is currently in effect for heavy to locally intense rainfall between Ayr and St Lawrence, and adjacent inland areas, including Mackay, Proserpine, and Bowen.
Many catchments in northern and central Queensland are experiencing minor to major flooding, with catchments in central and northern Queensland saturated and expected to respond rapidly to further rainfall.
Dangerous flash flooding remains possible, particularly around the coast and ranges north of Mackay to Nebo.
A Flood Watch is also in effect for the Lower Herbert and Central Coast catchments, causing disruptions to transport networks, including the Bruce Highway, and leaving some towns isolated.
The widespread and locally heavy rain is expected to ease to showers overnight, as the trough and associated low shift offshore.
To 09:00 AEDT on January 17, notable daily rainfall amounts include:
- Finch Hatton with 360 mm (14.17 inches)
- Ridgelands with 320 mm (12.6 inches)
- Eungella with 308 mm (12.13 inches)
High tides are expected in parts of coastal Queensland later this week, and there is the potential for abnormally high tides in parts of Torres Strait and the western Peninsula from Friday.
Daytime maximum temperatures were well below average across the northern interior, central, and eastern districts on Tuesday, ranging 4 to 9 °C (7.2 to 16.2 °F) below average in parts of the Central Highlands, the Central Coast, and Capricornia.
Residents and communities are advised to stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings via the Bureau of Meteorology website and BOM Weather app and to follow the advice of emergency services.
References:
1 Heavy Rainfall and significant flooding risks in Queensland’s Central Coast – BOM – January 17, 2023
Featured image credit: JMA/Himawari-9, Zoom Earth, The Watchers. Acquired at 05:50 UTC on January 17, 2023
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