Guy Dixon, 23 Feb 2014, 1:29 AM UTC
A positive February for some parts of QLD
Despite a low pressure trough bringing much needed water to the parched inland areas of Queensland, much of the Tropical Coast continues to receive consistent above average rainfall totals this month.
A high pressure ridge has been steering moist tropical winds towards the coast bringing consistently heavy showers and thunderstorms to eastern QLD. These heavy coastal showers have contributed to above average rainfall for the month of February after a slow start to the wet season.
Several towns along the northern Tropical coast have already received well over their rainfall quota with Cardwell seeing 654mm so far this month when its February average is just 461mm. This puts Cardwell at 142% of its February rainfall with the month not yet over.
Similarly, Innisfail and South Johnstone have seen 131% and 126% respectively. Innisfail has received 763mm over 17 rainy days, whereas the average is just 583mm over 17 rainy days.
Just next door, South Johnstone has clocked up 747mm over its February average of 591mm thanks to a few heavy days of rain including Monday 3rd which saw a 24 hour total of 230mm.
Over the next week or so, in the lead up to March, the Northern Tropical coast can expect continuing showers and the odd storm with between 50-100mm forecast to further exceed the monthly average. A trough in the west will also bring some relief to inland parts, with February coming to a positive close - at least for some.
These above average monthly totals contrast areas of the Southeast coast which have seen well below average rain. The state's capital for example has only seen 9% of its February average with 13mm, making it the driest February since 2001. Similarly, December reached only 13% making it the driest December in at least 14 years.
Unfortunately the bad news continues, with only 10mm forecast for the remainder of February about the Southeast coast.
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