Stormy encore in store
Forecasters say western areas in for another soaking with rain expected today
THUNDERSTORMS could return to the Far North tomorrow, but forecasters are not tipping a repeat of the downpour that lashed the region earlier this week.
The Bureau of Meteorology is expecting isolated showers to continue in Cairns today before a possible thunderstorm that could bring up to 10mm.
The drought-stricken Tabelands farming district is shaping up to be the big winner of a trough moving up from southwest Queensland. Up to 35mm is expected to fall in Mareeba and Atherton tomorrow.
Malanda cattleman James Johnston was counting his losses after six cows were killed by suspected lightning strikes on his Hillcrest Rd property this week. “Dad said the insides would have been cooked,” he said.
“We just found them dead in the paddock ... there was quite a lot of lightning around.”
The four Illawarra and two Holstein cows were found within about five metres of each other.
Mr Johnston, who manages 182ha, said lightning was the only explanation. “There was a farmer who lost 20 head 15 years ago and someone lost 13 at Ravenshoe last year,” he said.
BOM forecaster Dean Narramore said storms were more likely out west this weekend.
“There is a good chance of seeing heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in that part of the world rather than on the coast in Cairns,” he said. “Nothing like you saw the other day where you saw very heavy rain and thunderstorms across the region.”
Lake Tinaroo has crept up to 41.29 per cent capacity.
Mulgrave Mill at Gordonvale is expected to start crushing again early next week after wet weather disrupted sugarcane supply.