BIG WET SET TO CONTINUE
TOWNSVILLE suburbs were hit with a welcome deluge yesterday and more rain has been forecast.
Lazarus Taylor, 8, is pictured walking his dog Jett Nitrous during a downpour yesterday.
TOWNSVILLE may wake to flash flooding this morning with a severe weather warning combining with a very high tide.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned up to 200mm of rain could fall in a six- hour period overnight.
Forecaster Julian De Morton said a system causing severe downpours in Cairns yesterday was tracking south.
With much of the city already experiencing between 50mm and 100mm yesterday and a 3.6m high tide set for 6.30am today, there was a real danger of flash flooding.
“It’s actually one of the highest tides of the year,” Mr De Morton said.
“Generally during these rainfall events the peak period is night time and a lot is coming off the ocean.
“If there is still rain around when the tide comes in that could be a problem.”
Mr De Morton said Bushland Beach was the hardest hit suburb yesterday with 107mm of rainfall recorded.
Locals’ spirits weren’t dampened by the weather. r. On the contrary, after years of drought people continue to cheer on the rainfall.
Mum Natasha Pollard and her children Keira and Noah ride their bikes to and from Rasmussen State School ol every day and didn’t let the he rain stop them, while Monnique Sant strapped on her acctive wear and continued ed marathon training.
Damian Patel and Emily Smith visited Ross River Dam to see the raised water levels. The pair said it was fantastic to see the dam nearing its limits.
Dam levels are expected to rise steadily in coming days thanks to rain brought by ex- Tropical Cyclone Nora.
At its peak yesterday the Ross River Dam was at 88 per cent.
It’s the highest the dam has been since August 2013.
In the space of a month the Ross River Dam has risen by 73 per cent.
A low pressure system moved over Townsville on February 27, bringing heavy rainfall, with some suburbs receiving more than 700mm over the week.