Wild weather is continuing to cause chaos for travellers and residents up and down the east coast.
The ABC reports that ex-tropical cyclone Imogen is continuing to dump heavy rain on Queensland’s north, with ‘intense’ falls, flash flooding and ‘damaging to destructive winds’ possible as the system hovers over the region.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) predicts potential isolated daily rainfall totals of more than 350 millimetres in some parts. Forecaster Peter Markworth told the ABC the region would see falls today between 150mm and 200mm, with heavier falls between Tully and Townsville.
“The severe weather warning has been in place for a few days now,” he said. “It’s just south of Cairns over towards Georgetown, around past Gregory Springs, Charters Towers, then it crosses back towards the east coast just south of Ayr.”
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Rosa Hoff said Imogen was unlikely to cause any weather impacts in southeast Queensland, but a trough moving east from western Queensland would.
“We will see a separate trough move through southern Queensland in the coming days which will increase rainfall in southeast Queensland, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, but this will be away from any tropical low system remaining in the north,” she said. “It’s slowly going to be moving towards the east and increasing the chances of rainfall and storm activity.”
New South Wales has not been spared the rains. A woman is currently in hospital after a tree crushed the caravan she was sheltering in during wild storms last night.
The caravan was in the backyard of a Wisemans Ferry property rather than at a caravan park or camping ground, but it still underscores how vulnerable travellers can be in violent storms. The woman suffered injuries to her neck and lower limbs and was flown to Westmead Hospital, where she remains in a stable condition.
At least 13mm of rain has fallen in Sydney in the past 24 hours, while late afternoon storm dumped 21mm in Gosford and 41.6mm in Williamtown near Newcastle.
Another day of severe thunderstorm activity is expected along the NSW coast today, with the chance of damaging winds, heavy rainfall and large hail.
In Victoria, heavy rain is continuing over most of Gippsland, with a severe weather warning in place for the east of the state. The weather bureau has warned flash flooding is possible, with widespread falls of 20 to 40mm and localised totals up to 80mm possible in the warning area.
Washed out at Old Bar half the campers have left, pkenty of room for ducks
Very sad news.
Can you please send some rain to Mandurah W.A