Grey nomads travelling in western Queensland are being warned that the heaviest rain in many years is expected over the next few days.
A low pressure system that dumped 350 millimetres of rain in the Townsville region on Wednesday and Thursday causing widespread flooding is now heading inland.
BOM forecaster David Crock said for many areas it was expected to be the heaviest rain in at least seven years, with focus now shifting to towns including Longreach, Mount Isa and Cloncurry.
“Exactly where that low-pressure system moves will have a big impact on were the heaviest of those rainfall totals will be,” he told the ABC. “At the moment we’ve predicted it to hit from the lower Gulf country, down through Cloncurry, getting to maybe Winton through Sunday, and then possibly tracking a little bit further east to areas west of Longreach.”
Rainfall of 75mm to 150mm range is forecast over 24 hours, with isolated falls of up to 300mm possible with thunderstorms.
A flood watch has been issued for the Central West, Channel Country and Gulf Rivers.
People from outback properties are coming in to Julia Creek, east of Mount Isa, said stock up on fruit, vegetables and milk in preparation for heavy rain.
Rivers level rises across remote areas could cause significant disruption to transport and isolation of communities for a long duration.
An example of the chaos that can be caused is the township if Giru, south of Townsville which is still mopping up after the Haughton River reached a record 3.1 metres. Homes and businesses were cut off as the floodwater rose, although no buildings were inundated.
Burdekin Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said despite the widespread flooding, the locals were well prepared.
“I can never praise Giruvians enough they are the most resilient community I know … they were really organised up there,” she told the ABC.
