WEEKEND A MIXED BAG OF WET, WILD WEATHER
GET out your gum boots, the weather watchers are expecting a wild and wet weekend for the Gold Coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) Queensland has predicted heavy rain showers and even thunderstorms this weekend.
It follows a number of severe thunderstorm warnings throughout central Queensland.
A BOM spokeswoman said at least 15-40 millilitres was expected on the Coast today – a welcome break in a long dry spell.
“Continuing rain and showers are forecast for Saturday with possible storms into the evening,” a spokeswoman said.
“Showers will ease off for Sunday, with Monday returning us to the usual chance of showers are we move ahead into the week.”
Isolated falls have also been forecast for the Tweed, which is facing more severe drought conditions than the Coast.
Recent rainfall has not improved the water shortage crisis and the levels of Clarrie Hall Dam continues to drop at an alarming rate.
BOM NSW forecaster Abrar Shabren said a shift of an inland trough would bring isolated heavy rainfall to the Tweed this weekend on the coastal fringe.
“Most locations in the Tweed will see isolated heavy falls in the next few days,” Mr Shabren said.
BOM figures showed Bray Park had about 23mm of rain this week but Tweed Shire Council said it was not enough.
Manager Water and Wastewater Anthony Burnham said the dam had dropped to 68.8 per cent and was still falling nearly two per cent a week.
“While the recent rain provided some relief on the coast and for thirsty lawns, it has not eased our current water situation, nor slowed the escalation of water restrictions to Level 3 on February 3,” Mr Burnham said.
“History tells us we need at least 150 to 200mm of steady rain in the catchment over a few days to get any water into the dam. To lift water restrictions, we need in the order of 700 to 900mm over a few months – and the outlook for that remains poor.”
Mr Burnham said without significant rainfall in the catchment, the Tweed would go to Level 4 water restrictions on February 28..