NQ GETS DRENCHED
TOWNSVILLE and district has received good unseasonal rain of almost 50mm or two inches in the old scale in the 24 hours to 9am to drench dry gardens.
But the Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed that a reading of 226mm apparently recorded at the Mount Stuart defence force gauge was in fact a misreading due to maintenance.
“It’s part of maintenance to pass water through (the gauge),” meteorologist Helen Reid said.
Ms Reid said a surface trough had been sitting inland just to the west of the coastal ranges allowing moisture to come offshore on to the land.
She said higher in the atmosphere there was enough support to allow bigger showers and thunderstorms to develop.
“A lot of what fell on
Townsville is rain that has come from further inland. everything was lining up to encourage larger showers. Fortunately, Townsville was on the receiving end,” Ms
Reid said.
She said the rain would ease during Tuesday.
In the 24 hours to 8.30am, rainfall records included: Townsville airport: 35.2, Alva Beach 47; Ayr DPI Research Station 58.8, Hughenden 18.4.