Queensland crews pulled 16 people from floodwaters this week
Heavy rain has soaked eastern Queensland, with some areas recording 450 millimeters of water before a new cold front hits four states.
By Leila Santos ·
The Queensland fire department conducted 16 swift-water rescues during a week of extreme rainfall in the state. Emergency crews responded to hundreds of calls for help after torrential rain triggered flash flooding and water rescues across the region.
Some areas in the Sunshine Coast hinterlands and Caboolture recorded seven-day rainfall totals between 300 millimeters and 400 millimeters. Specific spots reached 450 millimeters. Senior Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist David Crock noted that the conditions resembled typical summer patterns seen in January or February rather than October weather.
The heaviest rain fell on Thursday, stretching from Caboolture south to the Border Ranges. Some locations received well over 200 millimeters in a single day. The downpour forced several schools to close on Friday and kept the State Emergency Service busy with numerous requests for assistance.
In one rescue operation in Caboolture, fire crews used a raft to reach an elderly man who was clinging to the roof of his vehicle. The Queensland fire department handled more than 16 such swift-water rescues as floodwaters rose across the state.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued flood warnings for southern Queensland, with nine active alerts in place. Severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and flash flooding are now forecast for South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania this weekend. A cold front is expected to cross New South Wales on Sunday, bringing storms to the west of the state, north-eastern Victoria, Sydney, and Brisbane.
Crock said the threat of thunderstorms would extend across eastern Australia. Severe storms are likely to affect a wide part of inland eastern Australia, including Melbourne's eastern suburbs and central and eastern South Australia. Heavy rain is also expected to develop overnight into Sunday morning in Tasmania.
The current weather pattern has persisted for seven to 10 days across Queensland and northern New South Wales, drawing in large amounts of moisture. This sustained system has built up rain totals that are well above the October average for the affected areas.
Source: The Guardian
