OUR RAINING CHAMPION
Official figures reveal Far North’s wettest March in six years
BUREAU of Meteorology figures reveal the Far North is just 39mm short of a record 1712mm of rain in March.
March 2018 was the wettest in six years. The highest total recorded was 1673mm at Russell River near Babinda.
More rain could possibly return as early as today.
FAR North Queensland has experienced its wettest March in six years with some towns recording more than 1600mm.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Rick Threlfall said the highest rainfall recorded for the month was at Russell River (10km north west of Babinda) with 1673mm.
The overall March record for the region is 1712mm.
“(The Russell River rain gauge has) been there for 17 years and that’s certainly the highest monthly rainfall there in March, but also the highest landfall record,” he said.
“There are quite a few towns that have broken their March and annual (highest observed in any month) rainfall record ... but a lot of them (rain gauges/alerts) have only been there for about 17 years.
“Even Mareeba, receiving 456mm, that’s a new record for March. Euramo recorded 1190mm, that’s the highest March rainfall on record, (the rain gauge has) been there for 14 years and also the highest annual rainfall.”
Mr Threlfall said another high rainfall was recorded at Warner St, Port Douglas with 1281mm, compared to 236mm in March last year.
“That makes it the highest rainfall in March ever ... (the rain gauge has) been there for 127 years,” he said.
Residents across the region are now in clean-up mode, trying to get back on their feet after the torrential rain affected so many homes and businesses.
Mayor Bob Manning got his first chance to see the extent of damage around the region after returning from Canberra late on Wednesday night.
He said the council was applying for Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements funding to help in the recovery.
“I understand that we will qualify, that we’ve reached the threshold,” he said.
“It’s about doing all we can to help these people now.
“You don’t walk away from people when things are a bit tough.”
Cr Manning urged residents with flooded homes to contact their insurers as a matter of urgency.
“That’s the starting point,” he said. “Document everything carefully and take photos.”