NSW / QLD Heavy rain and storms 15 to 19 January including thunderstorm of 20//1/2008
Michael, you are correct. This system has produced some very good rainfalls. As stated in another post, falls reached up to 100 millimetres across large swathes of inland Queensland although, I read some weather reports on Weatherzone that cumulative falls of up to 400 millimetres may have fallen on some isolated inland stations Thursday and Friday - 17 and 18 January 2008.
Looking at the rainfall maps Friday, there were numerous localities from Townsville to well inland in a narrow band stretching south west that had received over 100 millimetres and one place had recorded 226 millimetres.
The towns of Emerald, Barcaldine and Charleville are affected in one way although it is seen to be a boon to graziers because it is a time where dams, water supplies and stock can be replenished after so many years of drought.
One media reports suggests that 1,000,000 square kilometres of Queensland is affected by floods and another report states that 60% of the state is flooded. Whatever it is, it is a huge area that is flooded.
Today on Weatherzone, I read weather articles regarding new flooding at Normanton in far northern Queensland and possible new flooding at Rockhampton due to the Fitzroy River being unusually high.
The system moved south, south west Saturday and falls reached 70 millimetres around Cobar. By the time it reached southern New South Wales, falls still reached 50 to 60 millimetres (eg 58 mm at Albury).
However, in North East Victoria, some rainfalls reached 106 mm at Mount Buffalo and nearby areas. There were isolated instances of flash flooding in hilly areas NE of Melbourne Saturday.
This system has delivered some big rainfalls and has left flooding in large areas in its wake.
Not to mention two thunderstorms that swept across parts of Sydney Sunday afternoon. One at 4 pm that dumped 40 millimetres of rain over a rain gauge in the Royal National Park and 28 millimetres at Cronulla. This thunderstorm is responsible for two deaths occurring at Maroubra in which three people were inside a stormwater drain during this event which flooded.
The second thunderstorm swept over Blacktown and regions after 7 pm and brought a short but very heavy downpour, some 13 mm in a little over 10 minutes (Seven Hills Rain gauge from BOM) and a rain gauge in Baulkham Hills received 28 millimetres in a short period of time as well.
Both storms were relatively small but brought short sharp heavy showers / downpours in the affected regions.
The drainage system where I was could not cope too well from the rainfall intensity generated by the second thunderstorm.
Harley Pearman
