Press Release

Heavy rain spreads down the Queensland coast

24/07/2008: The northern half of the Queensland coast is now starting to dry out after heavy unseasonal rain, but more wet weather is on the way for the southeast, according to weatherzone.com.au.

Samuel Hill picked up a whopping 105mm in the 24 hours to 9am today, its highest July daily rainfall in seven years of records.

In the same time period, Middle Island received 82mm, its highest July daily rainfall in nine years of records.

"An upper trough, or cool air in the upper levels of the atmosphere, has brought widespread rain to eastern Queensland over the last couple of days," weatherzone.com.au meteorologist Matt Pearce said.

"The upper trough is now moving out into the Coral Sea, so the rain is now clearing from northern parts of the state."

"However, a low pressure system that formed off the north coast yesterday is now moving down the coast. This is causing rain to increase along the Wide Bay and Southeast Coasts."

In addition to the rain, the Queensland coast has been pounded by strong winds and large seas.

Middle Island recorded a wind gust of 94km/hr at 1:20am and wind gusts of around 90km/hr have been recorded at Double Island Point, further to the south, within the last hour.

"Heavy rain and strong winds will persist south of about Gladstone through today, before gradually easing tomorrow as the low moves out into the Tasman."

Media Inquiries:

Matt Pearce
media@weatherzone.com.au
02 9965 9236

About Weatherzone:

Weatherzone is Australia's most popular commercial meteorological resource, supplying weather information to most of Australia's major television broadcasters and websites. www.weatherzone.com.au has been developed by a team of world class meteorologists and features user friendly, up-to-the minute access to weather across the country.