Weather News

Heavy rain and damaging winds batter northeast QLD

A tropical low spinning off the northeast coast of Queensland has prompted severe weather warnings as damaging winds and heavy rain batter the tropical coast.

The low is directing the heaviest rain onto the coast between Cairns and Townsville, where widespread total of 50-150mm were gained during the past 24 hours. Townsville was drenched by more than 100mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am today, its heaviest in a year. Nearby, Mingela picked up 164mm, also its heaviest rain in a year.

The tropical low, which was close to 500km off the coast from Cairns as of 9am this morning, is also producing damaging winds along the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands. Willis Island has experienced the highest wind gusts, which whipped to 109km/h.

The low is expected to continue on a east to southeast track, away from the Queensland coast. A severe weather warning remains in place today for the risk of further damaging wind gusts in parts of the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands.

The heaviest area of rain will continue to affect the region between Cairns and Townsville, where an additional 50-100mm is expected today before easing on Sunday.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2012

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