Queensland Floods Precede National Storm Front
Emergency services conducted over 16 water rescues as the Bureau of Meteorology warned of severe thunderstorms across four states.
By Chioma Brooks ·
The Queensland fire department performed more than 16 swift-water rescues this week after persistent storms delivered extreme rainfall to the state. The weather system drew in massive amounts of moisture, causing totals to accumulate over a period of seven to 10 days across Queensland and northern New South Wales. Senior Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist David Crock noted that the conditions resembled summer weather patterns rather than typical October weather.
Several regions in Queensland received more than double their average October rainfall within a few days. The Sunshine Coast hinterlands and Caboolture recorded seven-day rainfall totals between 300mm and 400mm. Some specific locations in the area reached 450mm. The heaviest downpour occurred on Thursday, when torrential rain stretched from Caboolture south to the Border Ranges. Certain places in that corridor received well over 200mm in a short span.
The intense rainfall triggered flash flooding and prompted hundreds of calls for help to the State Emergency Service. In one rescue operation in Caboolture, crews used a raft to reach an elderly man who was clinging to the roof of his vehicle. The weather disruption extended to the education sector, with several schools forced to close on Friday.
The Bureau of Meteorology now has nine flood warnings in place for southern Queensland. Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are expected to continue at multiple locations in central and eastern Queensland on Saturday. These areas include Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg, the Sunshine Coast hinterlands, and Roma. Crock stated that there is plenty of rain across the south-east, alongside showers and storms across much of the state.
The storm system is expanding beyond Queensland. The Bureau of Meteorology warned of severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and flash flooding in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. Parts of Victoria, including Melbourne's eastern suburbs, and central and eastern South Australia may face severe storms. Heavy rain is forecast to develop in Tasmania overnight into Sunday morning.
A cold front is scheduled to cross New South Wales on Sunday. This front will bring severe thunderstorms to the west of the state, north-eastern Victoria, Sydney, and Brisbane. Crock indicated that the threat of thunderstorms will extend across eastern Australia, with severe storms likely throughout a wide part of inland eastern Australia.
