City misses deluge but Penny drops plenty in region’s south
TOWNSVILLE escaped the extremes of the ex-tropical cyclone Penny yesterday with the city receiving scattered rainfall, while the southern parts of the region were drenched.
Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Chris Joseph said the Burdekin “had some quite big totals” after Strathbogie, inland south of Ayr, recorded 432mm in 12 hours to 10am on Thursday.
Groper Creek recorded 187mm of rainfall and Eton Vale, just south of Strathbogie, recorded 171mm in the same time period.
“That was highly localised area that copped that heavy rainfall,” Mr Joseph said. “(The heavy rainfall) has mostly been in the south and from thunderstorms.”
A flood warning is in place for the Burdekin River.
Burdekin Shire Council warned minor flood levels were expected in the lower Burdekin River.
“The Burdekin River at Inkerman Bridge is expected to peak at 8am,” a council official said. “Residents are advised to take precautions and refrain from driving through flooded waters.”
The bureau said river levels peaked in the Bogie River at Strathbogie early yesterday afternoon and were now easing, and minor flood levels were expected in the Burdekin River, downstream from Dalbeg.
“The Burdekin River at Dalbeg Alert peaked at 8.8m during yesterday morning and is currently at 7.94m and falling,” the bureau said in a statement yesterday.
The bureau also said river levels were rising in the lower Burdekin River at Clare and were expected to exceed the 8m minor flood level, peaking around 9.9m this morning.
The Burdekin River at Inkerman Bridge is expected to peak around 8m, likely this morning.
While Townsville missed out on these extreme totals, Mr Joseph said heavy rainfall associated with storms remained a concern.
“Most of the heavy stuff has cleared from the Townsville region,” he said.
“The low and trough are moving to the north and taking the weather with it.”
Mr Joseph said the low pressure system was moving to the Gulf of Carpentaria.
“Some inland parts will be lucky to get some rain.”
Mr Joseph said the wet weather dropped Townsville maximum temperatures by almost 10C.
He said tops of 38C were recorded at Townsville Airport on Tuesday and Wednesday but this fell to 29C yesterday.
Mr Joseph said southeasterly winds follow once the trough had cleared and bring down the temperatures for the rest of the week.
Tops of 31C have been forecast for next week.