Weather News

Central QLD's thundery downpour

The storm season is well under way in Central Queensland, where storms have been a key feature every day this week.

Warm days combined with a low pressure trough and moist easterly winds are to thank for the stormy action, which has delivered the most rain that some towns have seen in months.

A band of storms sprung up over the state's west yesterday and slowly tracked eastward overnight, delivering healthy falls to the Capricornia and Wide Bay and Burnett regions. Hazeldean's rainfall total of 34mm yesterday was the highest recorded. This was followed closely by Biloela with 31mm, while Monto and Thangool both saw their heaviest rain since June.

The storms were also responsible for some very heavy downpours. Rockhampton received 24mm in total, 16mm of which fell in just twenty minutes early this morning. Rain of this intensity is heavy enough to cause brief localised flash flooding.

This band of storms moved offshore this morning, leaving just a few light showers around Bundaberg and Rockhampton. Storms are regenerating this afternoon and are likely to develop tomorrow and again on Saturday thanks to warm days and a series of troughs triggering widespread instability.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2012

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