Queensland on Brink of Catastrophe: Monster Storm Unleashes Record Rainfall, Sparking Fears of 2019-Style Flood Disaster
- Northwest Queensland bracing for devastating flooding as hundreds of thousands of livestock at risk
- Emergency services on high alert as severe weather warning issued for huge swathe of the state
- Record rainfall totals of up to 268 millimetres recorded in some areas, with hundreds more millimetres predicted
- Communities warned to prepare for ‘difficult days ahead’ as slow-moving low pressure system wreaks havoc
Queensland is staring down the barrel of a catastrophic flooding disaster as a powerful storm system brings record rainfall to the state’s north, sparking fears of a repeat of the devastating 2019 event that killed hundreds of thousands of livestock.
The northwest of the state is particularly at risk, with emergency services watching the situation ‘incredibly closely’ as a severe weather warning remains in place. The warning comes as a huge part of the state is already underwater, with inland areas recording extraordinary rainfall totals since 9am yesterday.
Fish Hole Creek has been drenched with a staggering 177 millimetres of rain, while Claraville recorded 149 millimetres. Further east, South Mission Beach has been inundated with a massive 268 millimetres, with weather forecasters warning that some locations could receive hundreds more millimetres in the coming days.
The widespread deluge is being caused by a slow-moving low pressure system combined with a trough, which is affecting a massive span of the state. ‘We’re expecting some very difficult days ahead for affected communities,’ a spokesperson for emergency services warned.
The major flood warning issued for the Gregory River has added to concerns, with some areas already resembling scenes from the 2019 flood disaster. ‘We’re doing everything we can to prepare for the worst,’ the spokesperson added.