Once-in-100-year flooding prompts Queensland evacuations and rescues, more rain to fall this week
For the latest information on the much-needed dry weather headed to Queensland, please visit this news story.
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Record-setting rainfall since late January has led to widespread flooding, landslips, road closures and evacuations across Queensland. Flood dangers and travel disruptions will continue with little change expected this week.
The flooding turned deadly on Monday when two bodies were found in an Aitkenvale storm water drain, according to News9.
In northern Queensland, Cairns recorded a daily rainfall of 277 mm (10.91 inches) on Jan. 26. This is the most rain the city has had in a single day in more than a decade. Cairns ended January with 499 percent of their normal rainfall for the month, with 523 mm (20.81 inches) falling during the last eight days of the month.
North of Cairns, the Daintree River reached an all-time record height with a peak of 12.6 meters (41.3 feet) on the night of Jan. 26, according to The Guardian.
The heaviest rain shifted farther to the south into Townsville and neighboring areas in the past week.
During a nine-day stretch from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4, Townsville reported more than a year’s worth of rainfall.
During this time, 1134.4 mm (44.66 inches) of rain was reported in the city, causing historic flooding which has been called a once-in-a-century event.
More than 1,000 people have been evacuated due to the extreme flooding, and another 20,000 homes in Townsville are at risk for flooding, according to BBC News.
The community of Bluewater, north of Townsville, recorded 1800 mm (70 inches) of rain in only seven days, leading to widespread flooding.
People have been warned to be aware of possible crocodiles and snakes in the floodwaters. The widespread flooding has also raised fears of sewage backups seeping into the floodwaters.
The Commonwealth and Queensland governments are working to support recovery efforts throughout the region.
“As well as breaking records for a region no stranger to wet seasons, the floodwaters have cut roads and power, damaged infrastructure such as water and sewerage lines and isolated vulnerable communities," Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
She described the event as "unprecedented" and compared it to a rainfall event in January 1998, when the remnants of Cyclone Sid dropped over 570 mm (20 inches) of rain in Townsville in under 10 hours. Hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes as 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) of water rushed through the town.
As of Monday afternoon, more than 14,000 properties were without power in Townsville, according to the Townsville Bulletin. The suburb of Idalia remains inaccessible by road as downpours continue.
Schools, daycare centers and businesses have been closed throughout the region, and five evacuation shelters have been opened in Townsville.
Supermarkets in Townsville, Bowen and Cairns have all reported running out of products as new supplies have been unable to arrive due to the flooding.
Unfortunately for residents and businesses in these areas, more rainy weather is expected to exacerbate flood issues this week.
As of Monday, The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued major flood warnings for many rivers across the region, including the Ross, Haughton, Burdekin and Don rivers.
"The monsoon trough responsible for this weather looks like it will continue to inundate the East Coast for much of this week," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk.
"Combined with a surface low farther west, flooding rainfall can occur farther inland as well," he said.
Periods of heavy rain are therefore expected to continue through most of the coming week. Gusty thunderstorms are also possible, which could lead to toppled trees and increased power outages.
Much of the region from Ingham to Mackay can see another 150-300 mm (6-12 inches), with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 600 mm (24 inches) this week.
These downpours may stretch inland, causing flooding from Chaters Towers to Richmond, Julia Creek and Cloncurry.
Motorists should not attempt to drive through flooded roadways, as the road underneath may be washed out.
Residents should stay up to date on local weather warnings and take heed of evacuation notices. Many creeks and rivers in the region have already exceeded record flood stages and are only expected to rise further in the coming days.
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