HIGHEST AMOUNT OF DECEMBER RAIN IN TROPICAL NORTH IN 43 YEARS:
More wet weather on way
CAIRNS – with three days until the end of the month – has already experienced the wettest December since 1975, and with more rain forecast, the all-time December total is tipped to tumble.
The Kuranda Scenic Railway has suspended operations after landslips blocked the tracks and the ferry across the Daintree River remains closed as the river experienced moderate flooding.
Up to 5pm yesterday, Cairns had received 636.4mm, shy of the 1975 total of 765.1mm.
The Copperlode Dam is at capacity and 1400 residents at Kuranda have been without power in the wake of wet weather.
More than 17 State Emergency Service volunteers have been responding to requests for sandbags and helping homeowners with leaking roofs, Cairns region deputy group leader Eleanor Rosam said.
“The majority of what we do is tarping the roof, and in some instances, all we have had to do is clear blocked gutters,” she said.
No major flood-related emergencies had been responded to, however a 2m croc was spotted taking a dip in a Gordonvale cane field.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Gordon Banks said there had been some pretty damp wet seasons since 1975 and the recent rain was a “significant event”.
And the wet shows no sign of letting up before the end of the month, according to the weather bureau.
Cardwell and Ingham have already broken rainfall totals for December, having received 1025mm and 962mm respectively.
Minor to moderate flooding of the Daintree River is expected to continue for the next two days, Mr Banks said. “Moderate flood levels are falling along the Daintree River, but with further heavy rainfall forecast during the next few days, renewed river level rises are expected,” the bureau said.
Queensland Rail executive general manager Martin Ryan said all Kuranda Scenic Railway services had been cancelled until Monday.
“Safety is our No.1 priority and the rain has caused minor rock and mud slides along the track,” he said.
The Barron River at the Cairns Airport was falling with the low tide late yesterday and sitting at 1.8m, just below the minor flood level of 2.50m.
Freshwater Creek was receding after peaking early yesterday, but the MossmanDaintree Rd at Barratt’s Creek remained under 2m of water.
The river level at Peets Bridge on the Mulgrave River may exceed the minor flood level today, the BOM warned late yesterday, as further heavy rainfall is expected.
THE MAJORITY OF WHAT WE DO IS TARPING THE ROOF, AND IN SOME INSTANCES, ALL WE HAVE HAD TO DO IS CLEAR BLOCKED GUTTERS. ELEANOR ROSAM