SINGING IN THE RAIN
THIS is one occasion when rain did not stop play. Nellie McKinley loved every moment of her afternoon stroll yesterday that turned into a splash and frolic across the flooded fields near Metricon Stadium at Carrara. The Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony will be held there on April 4, followed by the athletics, but Nellie reckons if the rain keeps up they can hold the swimming there too.
A ONCE in 50 years weather event was recorded at Bonogin this week when 118mm of rain fell in just two hours.
The incredible amount of rain drenched the hinterland town between 8.50pm and 10.50pm on Monday night, causing flash flooding and bringing boulders crashing onto roads.
A total of 166mm fell in Bonogin in the past two days, closely followed by Loders Creek with 140mm and Biggera Creek with 110mm.
The big downpour smashed the 129mm monthly March average for the Gold Coast in many areas.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Julian de Morton said the amount of rain at Bonogin was “significant”.
“This is a one in 20 or one in 50 year weather event, not because of how much fell, but because of the time frame in which it fell,” he said.
“Many stations in the hinterland don’t have monthly average data, but the rain in Bonogin and Neranwood would have definitely come close to the expected monthly average there.”
Weatherzone meteorologist, Tom Hough, said the worst of the rain was over for the Coast.
“There is rain expected every day over the next five to seven days, but it won’t be anything like what we have seen,” he said.
“On Wednesday we may see up to 20mm, while on Thursday up to 10mm, it will reduce as the week goes on.
“Temperatures will be about 27C during the days this week, only slightly under the monthly average.”
Mr Hough said it was too soon to tell whether the Queensland coast could be impacted by cyclonic weather.
“There are slight model indications of a low developing, but it’s too soon to say how close to Queensland that could come.”
A Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) spokesman said wet weather was preventing some preparation work for the Games, but it wasn’t expected to impact on venue delivery times.
A council spokeswoman said the weather had not impacted significantly on any city projects or Games roadworks.
World Surf League Australian communications manager Tom Bennett said construction of the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro competition area at Snapper Rocks was on track. “It’s all travelling along well, rain on the Gold Coast at this time of year is pretty standard,” Mr Bennett said.