AS ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST REGIONAL CITIES, WE DESERVE TO HAVE WATER SECURITY FOR YEARS AND DECADES TO COME. — EDITORIAL, PAGE 14 GET SET, RAIN ON THE WAY Online outlook not positive
WEATHER forecasters may be predicting a downpour later this week but Townsville residents were left casting confused looks at the blue sky upon hearing of the prediction yesterday.
The latest rainfall models suggest Townsville could receive between 50 and 100mm between tomorrow night and early Saturday.
South Townsville resident Alex Baldock said Townsville didn’t have a good track record with rain, but he hoped it might be our turn this time.
“We seem to miss all the storms,” he said.
“It’d be nice to have a green lawn.
“I haven’t about rain yet.”
Annandale resident Gavin Keating said the skies looked pretty clear but he’d listen to the meteorologists.
“They probably know a bit more than we do,” he said.
Holiday- makers were also a bit unsure of the forecast.
Tasmanian visitor Pat Bateman said yesterday that it didn’t look like heavy rain was on the way.
“We might get 50mm back in Tasmania,” he said. heard much
Gold Coast visitor Tim Meacham said he was hoping for sunny skies during his stay but had heard rain was needed over the dam.
“It doesn’t look like it right now but it’s North Queensland ... isn't it supposed to be like that ( hard to predict)?” he said.
Bureau of Meterology forecaster Mario Torrisi said Townsville could see cumulative totals of more than 50mm, with the wet weather setting in from late tomorrow thanks to an upper trough and surface trough.
If Townsville receives higher falls it could be one of the wettest Mays the city has seen in years.
“The last time we’ve exceeded 50mm in May was in 2012 when there was just short of 70mm for the month,” he said.
“The record 181mm in 1977.
“The long- term average for May is 32mm and at the moment we’re sitting at 3mm.”
Mr Torrisi said the impending rain for North Queensland was expected to be heaviest southward from Ingham.
“It’ll be interesting to see how things develop over the next couple of days,” he said. for May was