Mitchell's flood situation has been a result of a record wet summer and its summer average falling in only three days. This summer has been Mitchell's wettest on record and coolest in 28 years, which has led to saturated ground and significant inundation. The Maranoa town has had three times its summer average rainfall, 660mm so far this season, with 230mm falling in the first three days of February. All up, there have been 29 rain days, nine more than the summer average, so effectively, there have been too few drying days. The previous wettest summer was in 1910/11 when 589mm fell. Combine this record rain with a cooler-than-normal summer and you get little evaporation, so the ground stays saturated for longer. This season's average temperature has been more than two degrees cooler than the long-term norm. Daytime maximum temperatures have only averaged 30.4 degrees, more than three below average. Overnight minimums have averaged 18.3, more than one degree below normal. Combine night and daytime temperatures and it makes it Mitchell's coolest summer since 1983/84, when days averaged 31.6 and nights just 17.2. Looking ahead, Mitchell's run of four dry days looks like being extended to at least seven, giving locals a chance to clean up. Showers and storms, which will continue each day east of Roma, should reach the Mitchell area next week. At this stage they don't look excessive, bringing less than 10mm per day. Meanwhile, in St George, the Ballone River reached 13.95 metres this morning with the peak still to come. Peaking is also still to occur downstream at places including Dirranbandi. Further west, the Warrego River is also reaching major levels flood downstream of Charleville with Wallen and Cunnumulla due for a peak today and tomorrow.