MAJOR FLOODING EVENT FOR NORTH QUEENSLAND – WEATHER FORECAST WARNING
Mackay, Townsville, Bowen, Cardwell, Cairns, Cooktown, and areas west of these locations.
Severe flooding through the areas north & Northwest of about Mackay is expected today(05/01/2021) and over the next 3-5 days.
Falls in excess of 500mm+ are likely. Please prepare for widespread flooding in these areas.
Depending on the movement of the tropical low in the Gulf, this flooding event could quite significant. Some isolated pockets of extreme rainfall could see totals in excess of 800mm.
An intense monsoonal low is moving SE through the southern interior of Cape York. The low is expected to maintain its intensity over the next 24-48 hours and head in an easterly direction towards the Townsville region.
Major to catastrophic flooding is likely with falls above 500 mm+.
Please prepare Now for this major weather event. Locations that may be affected are as follows. Mackay, Townsville, Bowen, Cardwell, Cairns, Cooktown, and areas west of these locations.
PLEASE PREPARE NOW.
The torrential rain to start to develop from about tonight(04/01/2021) onwards.
A strong La Nina event is helping to create a tropical moisture-laden atmosphere over Queensland currently and more severe systems are likely to develop over the coming months.
The weather warning from the BOM
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
Severe Weather Warning
for DAMAGING, LOCALLY DESTRUCTIVE WINDS and HEAVY RAINFALL
For people in Herbert and Lower Burdekin and parts of North Tropical Coast and Tablelands and Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders Forecast Districts.
Issued at 8:28 am Tuesday, 5 January 2021.
EX-TROPICAL CYCLONE IMOGEN IS PRODUCING WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAIN AND LOCALLY DAMAGING TO DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS ACROSS NORTHEASTERN QUEENSLAND.
Weather Situation:
At 8 am AEST, Ex-Tropical cyclone Imogen was located approximately 80 kilometres east of Georgetown. Ex-Imogen is forecast to track slowly east-southeast towards the southern North Tropical Coast and Tablelands, and Herbert and Lower Burdekin districts during today and then potentially become slow-moving just inland from the coast later today into Wednesday.
A trough extends from ex-Imogen eastward through the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands to the south of Innisfail and is forecast to slowly move southward during Tuesday.
The heaviest rainfall is currently occurring on the eastern flank of the low into the middle and lower parts of the Herbert River Valley, although rainfall rates have not been especially large over the past 6 hours.
Potential remains in place for widespread heavier rainfall to develop through the warning area between Tully and Townsville in the next six hours and then extend southeastward to about Ayr during the remainder Tuesday. Areas of heavy rain may also redevelop north of Tully to the Babinda area later today.
Six hourly rainfall totals between 150 mm to 200 mm are possible. Periods of localised INTENSE RAINFALL leading to LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING with six-hourly totals of 300 mm about the coast and ranges in the warning area are also possible.
DAMAGING to LOCALLY DESTRUCTIVE WINDS are possible with thunderstorms about coastal areas from Ingham to Ayr.
Areas north of Babinda are no longer likely to experience widespread heavy rainfall, however, thunderstorm activity may produce some more localised heavy rainfall in this area, especially Tuesday afternoon, and severe thunderstorm warnings will be issued for this activity as necessary.
A Flood Watch and various Flood Warnings are current throughout the area, refer to those products for more information.
Locations which may be affected include Townsville, Ingham, Cardwell, Ayr, Giru, Atherton, Ravenshoe, Greenvale and Charters Towers.
Selected rainfall observations in the 6 hours to 4 am include:
Michael Creek 98 mm, Halifax 91, White Crystal 84, Gowrie Creek 81, Paluma Dam 76.
See BOMS Weather Warnings
TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST TRACK MAP
Queensland Weather Forecast Map – Lightning & Live Radar
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advise that people should:
* Move your car under cover or away from trees.
* Secure loose outdoor items.
* Never drive, walk or ride through floodwaters. If it’s flooded, forget it.
* Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
* Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm.
* Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.
* For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.
- Please keep an eye on the Bureau of Meteorology Brisbane Weather radar for live storm updates.
- Also, keep an eye on the weather warnings page for Queensland.
- Be prepared for severe thunderstorms this season. Read the Bureau of Meteorology’s Preparation and safety during thunderstorms
For further information and live updates about Queensland weather forecasts visit:
- https://www.facebook.com/HigginsStormChasing/
- https://www.facebook.com/ozcyclonechasers
- https://www.facebook.com/SevereWeatherAustralia/
- https://www.facebook.com/seqweather
- https://www.facebook.com/Tims-Severe-Weather-Queensland-100157335236883/
Weather Maps and Tools
- Queensland Live Weather & Lightning Radar Map
- Queensland Live Wind & Gusts Radar Map
- Queensland Live Temperature Map
- Queensland Waves & Swells Map
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