North Queensland has acquired an early morning drenching with as much as 61 millimetres of rain falling in simply half-hour.
Key factors:
- As much as 61mm fell in half-hour this morning as thunderstorms swept throughout north Queensland
- The heaviest falls had been recorded south of Townsville the place sugarcane planting is underway
- Farmers say the downpour will set some growers again by weeks
The Bureau of Meteorology recorded 61mm within the half-hour to 2:36am on the DAF station at Ayr, south of Townsville.
At Ayr, 97mm fell inside one hour to three:17am, whereas the Townsville suburb of Cluden acquired the rain early with 74mm inside one hour to 12:40am.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a extreme thunderstorm warning at 4am as lightning swept throughout the area.
Nevertheless that was revoked, as had been warnings for potential flash flooding, simply after 6am.
Uncommon rain
It has been a late begin to the sugarcane planting season for a lot of growers within the Burdekin area.
Dwelling Hill farmer and chairman of Canegrowers Owen Menkens stated it was unseasonal moist climate.
“We had about 62mm at one farm and 55mm on the different, there was effectively over 100mm in some locations,” he stated.
“It is quite a lot of rain for this time of yr.
“It was extra like a midsummer storm [that] you get in January, however it’s what it’s.”
Mr Menkens, who was midway by way of planting, stated the downpour would set many farmers again.
“We began [planting] a bit later than regular due to the moist climate in early March,” he stated.
“On my farm, we had completed however I had began irrigating it, so it’s all a bit moist in the intervening time.
“It is definitely good for many who had completed, however those that have not must look forward to a few weeks to get again on it.”
Mr Menkens stated there have been positives with the rain prone to deliver a reprieve after sizzling and humid autumn circumstances.
“It has been unseasonably heat for April, so the nice factor is that the cane is rising and reacting to the irrigation,” he stated.
Senior forecaster with the Bureau of Meteorology Felim Hanniffy stated the thunderstorms had been introduced on by a system that developed over western Queensland on the weekend with moisture from ex-tropical cyclone Ilsa.
“By the point it made it to the east, quite a lot of that moisture had dissipated however nonetheless it triggered some fairly heavy bathe exercise throughout the Townsville space,” he stated.
“South of Townsville, the heaviest falls had been round Ayr. We noticed 167 millimetres, which for that area is the heaviest April rainfall for greater than 73 years.
“That could be a file for that exact website.
“It is uncommon however not unprecedented. April is often that transition month, so knowledge totals, although vital, usually are not unprecedented for the time of yr.”
Mr Hanniffy additionally confirmed that temperatures within the area had been persistently effectively above common for a number of weeks.
“Up alongside elements of the north and the north-east coast brought on by a ridge that simply lingered over the world and that meant very mild winds and the afternoon sea breeze that brings within the moisture,” he stated.
“The moisture simply sits round and there’s nothing to flush it out.”
The bureau stated south-easterly winds would drive down temperatures with lingering humidity anticipated to tumble as effectively.
