Hopes rise for return of the sun

FOR the first time in a fortnight, there looks like sunlight at the end of the tunnel for Townsville.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast shows rain is set to ease in coming days.

Showers are forecast to fade by Monday and sunny and maximums of 36C and 37C forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Bureau state manager Bruce Gunn said severe weather warnings for North Queensland were cancelled on Wednesday night, but Townsville still saw isolated heavy falls yesterday.

From 9am to 3pm yesterday, 27mm of rain fell at Townsville Airport, 64mm at Bushland Beach and 79mm at Nelly Bay.

“We expect the low to move off the coast (overnight Thursday) to ease conditions but flash flooding still remains a risk, rivers and creeks will respond quite quickly with any falls,” Mr Gunn said yesterday.

“There are thoughts with the farmers out west. We heard quite distressing stories overnight. The Flinders River has exceeded the 1974 flood level and that river is still rising.”

As of 3pm yesterday, there was still a flood warning for Ross River, with residents in Townsville warned they may still experience flooding due to a rise in the river’s water levels.

This includes Rosslea, Hermit Park, Railway Estate, Oonoonba, Idalia, Cluden, West End, Annandale and South Townsville areas.

A general flood watch is in place for coastal catchments from Daintree to Mackay including the Herbert, Ross, Bohle, Haughton, Burdekin and Don rivers.