Thursday, December 30, 2010

Cairns weather to stay wet

Just when things seem to be drying off after Cyclone Tasha, Cairns weather is likely to return to wet conditions: expect another wet weekend over new Year, according to the BOM.

More rain on way for Far North

Roger Dickson

Thursday, December 30, 2010

IF you thought Christmas Day was a washout, then expect more of the same for New Year's Eve. Please send your wet weather pictures to editorial@tcp.newsltd.com.au

The monsoonal trough that produced cyclone Tasha and drenched Cairns over Christmas is making its way back north, with the weather bureau predicting falls of up to 100mm along the coast.

The trough is expected to be between Townsville and Cardwell today, bringing persistent rain that could cut the Bruce Highway again around Ingham.

Cairns weather bureau duty forecaster Ben Suter said by New Year's Eve the trough would be over Cairns with a southeasterly wind behind it bringing showers and storms.

In the latest weather bureau warnings issued late last night, the three-day forecast for the Coral Sea listed the chance of a cyclone forming today or tomorrow as very low.

The risk will increase to low by Saturday.

Mr Suter said there was a strong chance the Bruce Highway near Ingham would be cut.

The Far North's top traffic cop, Insp Bob Waters, urged people to reconsider their travel plans as the trough heads north.

"When severe weather is upon us if you do not have to be on the road then don't be," he said.

"For people taking longer journeys, rethink your plans and abandon at this stage.

"Even locally, slow down, put your lights on, have a large gap between vehicles and be aware of your surroundings."

Mr Suter said the trough would move further north over the weekend bringing heavy rain between Cairns and Cooktown and storms were expected in the Gulf.

He said a low off the Northern Territory was unlikely to become a cyclone and was heading southwest.

Much of the damage to Far Northern roads in the wake of cyclone Tasha and floods was restricted to potholes, but there has been landslips on the Gillies, Palmerston and Kennedy highways.

With many of the regions roads affected, the Cairns, Cassowary Coast and Tablelands regional councils have been declared eligible for disaster funding and road crews have been out making emergency repairs.

But only those areas considered a danger will be fixed immediately with many engineers and road experts on leave until January 4.

Here we go again: After a cyclone and floods on Christmas Day, the weather bureau is expecting a soggy New Year's Eve in the Far North.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Wet weather through dry season means increased flood risk

Cairns weather has been very wet for the last 5 months. Now I know this isn't news to anyone, but bureau of meteorology reports confirm our recent "dry season" wetness has been more than double the average rainfall for this period.

This means water tables are already saturated at the beginning of the wet season, increasing the risk for severe flooding following extreme weather events and high tides. In the wake of cyclone Tasha, Cairns and the rest of the state are vulnerable to other cyclones and lows.

Cairns drenched by five months of above average rain

Daniel Strudwick

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Make a splash: With the road cut by floodwater, this family has taken the chance to have fun in a swimming area at Behana Creek, near Aloomba Picture: JAKE NOWAKOWSKI

QUEENSLAND was in flood crisis last night with several towns placed on evacuation alert due to
near-record flood levels and torrential rain continuing the lash the state.

While the situation in central, southeast and southwest Queensland was dire, there was some relief in the Far North with heavy rain easing and a single lane of the Bruce Highway reopened after being cut at Ingham.

However, authorities are warning the Cairns region to brace for further flooding if heavy downpours return.

More than twice the average rainfall will have drenched Cairns by the end of December – the fifth month in a row that region has doubled its rainfall average.

"For the next few days, we’re expecting a slight easing, but scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are likely for the afternoons and evenings all week," weather bureau spokesman Adam Marshall said.

Drivers have been warned to restrict their time on the road to essential travel only.

"There’s just nowhere for the water to go, and for every drop that falls on a road in Queensland, the risk of a sudden change in road conditions is increased," RACQ spokesman Joe Fitzgerald said.

Mr Fitzgerald said the 300 road closures throughout the state made ex-cyclone Tasha the broadest-reaching weather front in Queensland since 1974.

And with wetter-than-average rainfall forecast for the traditionally sodden first three months of the New Year, grocers and publicans in
the Far North are already monitoring their stock levels.

"From our point of view, we’re OK at this point in time," Gordonvale IGA owner Terry Walters said.

The SES relief effort continued to wind up as the post-Tasha mop up nears completion.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts activated disaster relief arrangements for the Far North yesterday, allowing the Cairns, Cassowary Coast and Tablelands councils to access state funding to cover the cost of counter disaster
operations.

Cairns weather to stay wet

As flood waters and general sogginess recede following cyclone Tasha,

Cairns weather will remain humid and wet with plenty more rain to come over the next week.

Cyclone threat passes - but prepare for another soaking

Daniel Strudwick

Monday, December 27, 2010

PEOPLE in soggy and submerged areas south of Cairns will barely have time to recover in cyclone Tasha's wake before the region is battered by another week of heavy rain.

Flood levels in most of the Far North’s swollen rivers had subsided yesterday, and the emergency relief effort was tapering as roads reopened and fallen trees were cleared.

But the reprieve could be short-lived, as the weather bureau says a moist, unstable northern flow is forecast to bring heavy downpours and storms to the region all week.

"They’ll develop inland in the afternoon or early evening, then make showers about the north tropical areas through the night," weather bureau forecaster Bill O’Connor said.

"We’ll have humid conditions, showers, isolated thunder storms and a period where we should see heavier falls too.

"We’ll probably have that for most part of the week."

Emergency Management Queensland regional director Wayne Coutts said that although water levels were retreating, some areas were in danger of reflooding if rainfall continues this week.

"Things are settling right down again, but obviously if it rains in the Mulgrave Valley area, it won’t take much to bring that water level back up again."

In the last of the post-Tasha clean-up, SES crews erected tarps and cleared driveways at a handful of homes at Gordonvale, Yungaburra, Mission Beach and Cairns yesterday.

The Bruce Highway was reopened at the Mulgrave River after a brief roadblock on Christmas Day but remains closed north and south of Ingham, which is experiencing heavy flooding.

East Russell resident Andrew Luce spent Christmas and Boxing Day clearing fallen trees from his 32ha property near Babinda.

"The water’s still up around 700mm over the bridge, so it needs to go down another 100mm or so before I can get my four-wheel-drive over it," he said.

"Most people tend to go back and forth by boat so we’ve been going over to town for the essentials – beer and rum."

Mr Luce said an SES volunteer was on hand, but residents weren’t rattled by the wet weather forecast.

As ex-cyclone Tasha and a separate tropical low in the Gulf continue to move inland away from Cairns, the clean-up bill from the weekend’s weather is yet to be calculated.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Cairns may face more wild weather after cyclone

Category 1 cyclone Tasha passed south of Cairns in the early hours of Xmas day. There were some brief intense winds and plenty of rain with 279mm recorded in Goldsborough Valley overnight. Coastal Queensland is on alert for more heavy weather for the rest of the week.

Read more about Cairns Cyclones and Cairns Weather.

Week of wild weather ahead

David Murray and Daniel Knowles
From: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
December 25, 2010 5:00PM

INLAND SEA: Traffic controller Katrina Oxley keeps watch over the rising waters at Cattle Creek near Ingham on the Bruce Highway. Pic Peter Wallis Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

WILD weather is expected to lash Queensland for the next week as residents in the state's north mop up from the first cyclone of the season.

Category one Cyclone Tasha crossed the coast south of Cairns at 5.30am Christmas Day, bringing drenching rain and winds of up to 100km/h.

Power was cut to 7000 homes and the State Emergency Service responded to 140 calls for help for cyclone-related damage.

Five bushwalkers were missing in two groups on Hinchinbrook Island, with the weather holding up attempts to launch a search.

Innisfail residents were warned to stay indoors because of fallen power lines and uprooted trees across roads, and 16 Gordonvale homes were flooded.

The cyclone was downgraded to a low, but across the state heavy rain is predicted to cause havoc in coming days.

Festive travel plans are in jeopardy as authorities warn of the dangers of flash flooding and urge motorists to check on road closures.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said there were drenched conditions ahead for the next week and called for ``patience and caution''.

``Queenslanders from the tip of Cape York right through to the Gold Coast and inland can expect very heavy rain, thunderstorms and localised flooding and roads cuts,'' Mr Roberts said.

The weather bureau is now monitoring a low brewing in the Gulf of Carpentaria that could develop into a new cyclone.

Coastal communities south of Cairns are spending Christmas Day without power as they mop up and clear trees brought down by the Cyclone.

Residents in Russell Heads and Bramston Beach as well as Deeral further inland believe they were in the path of Tasha as she crossed the coast about 5.30am.

The cyclone awakened memories of Cyclone Larry that crossed the coast close to Tasha's landfall in 2006, devastating the area with its Category Four winds of up to 240km/h.

Russell Heads resident Ian Jensen believed the eye of the Category One cyclone passed over the small holiday hamlet that is squeezed between the Russell River and a sand beach.

He said Tasha blew for about an hour, fortunately much shorter than Larry's devastating onslaught.

Mr Jensen said residents lost power and were relying on generators and barbecues to cook their Christmas lunch but were grateful they had escaped serious damage.

``It blew a few trees down,'' Mr Jensen said.

``The power's out and I've got a generator going.''

He said Russell Heads usually filled up with families using their beach houses for Christmas but the bad weather kept most away this year.

The township can only be reached by boat.

``There's hardly anyone here - there's only five or so people.

``Luckily I got a Webber for Christmas - we've got Christmas cooking on that.''

Further south, Bramston Beach resident Lena Kelly said heavy rain and strong winds had forced the beachside village to cancel their annual Christmas Eve parade.

She said campers were sheltering in the caravan park, waiting for the Russell River level to drop low enough for the road to the highway to reopen.

She said some residents had been taken by surprise but most had generators and were prepared for the cyclone season.

``We were caught a bit unawares by the cyclone,'' Mrs Kelly said.

``It was very windy.

``There's trees all over the place.''

Mrs Kelly said the festive parade organisers were hoping the weather would clear up to run the event on New Years Eve.

On the banks of the Mulgrave River, Deeral Boat Storage caretaker Bill McCulloch said he lost the roof of his biggest shed.

Speaking hours after the blow, Mr McCulloch said the wind had stripped every leaf from surrounding trees.

``It was shocking,'' Mr McCulloch said.

``It was sharp and violent for about three-quarters of an hour.

``There's no limbs off trees but it blew all the leaves off.''

Cairns region recover in aftermath of Cyclone Tasha

Category 1 cyclone Tasha passed south of Cairns in the early hours of Xmas day. Cyclones affect Cairns and surround on a regular basis, fortunately this one was relatively mild, but brought plenty of rain, with 279mm recorded in Goldsborough Valley overnight.

Read more about Cairns Cyclones and Cairns Weather.

Weakening Tasha offers brief respite

Updated 2 hours 34 minutes ago

Rising floodwaters are predicted across the state in the coming days. (Western Downs Council)

Authorities are urging motorists to avoid road travel as much as possible in northern Queensland due to flooding from ex tropical cyclone Tasha, despite an easing of the conditions in the state.

The category one system crossed the coast just south of Cairns about 5.30am this morning, but has now weakened into a monsoonal low.

Flash flooding is still predicted in some areas, but Wayne Coutts from Queensland's Emergency Management says conditions are easing.

"There's been flash flooding occurring for the last few hours and probably I'm hoping right at the moment we're on the cusp of the downfall of the rain. So the SES groups are reporting that it's not as heavy," he said.

But Emergency Management Queensland says flooding is the biggest concern for authorities over the next few days with between 100 and 200 mm of rain expected to cause more flooding.

Queensland's Emergency Services Minister, Neil Roberts, says about 2,000 people are affected by power blackouts and the SES is responding to more than 140 calls for help.

"Thankfully there have been no reports of injury, but we have had reports of house damage to at least one home in the mission beach area however," he said.

"There is still heavy rain in the area, lots of roads cut and we expect the rain to continue particularly in the far north over the next few days, and increasing at the system moves into the south-west in the southern parts of Queensland in the next few days as well."

Power failures south of Cairns after Cyclone Tasha flooding

This graphic image of flooding South of Cairns show the awesome power of even a category 1 cyclone. Cairns cyclone, disaster management and Ergon repair teams were on standby and are now in action dealing with the consequences of flooding and wind damage to essential infrastructure and property.
Read more about Cairns weather.

Thousands without power and highways closed after Cyclone Tasha

Damon Guppy

Saturday, December 25, 2010

<strong>Aftermath of Cyclone Tasha:</strong> Bruce Highway at the Aloomba turn-off. Readers pic: Tenille Elms

Aftermath of Cyclone Tasha: Bruce Highway at the Aloomba turn-off. Readers pic: Tenille Elms

AS many as 3000 households and businesses remain without power after Cyclone Tasha crossed the Far Northern coast early this morning. Send your updates to editorial@tcp.newsltd.com.au

Ergon Energy is deploying extra crews from Townsville to help restore power in areas affected by the category 1 storm, which recorded winds up to 90km/h about 5.30am.

At the height of the cyclone, 7000 customers between Cairns and Mourilyan Harbour lost power because of fallen lines and trees across lines.

Ergon’s acting regional services manager Graham Lynes said most electricity supply problems were expected to be fixed by tonight.

“Crews are running into access issues given the impacts this kind of weather system has, (including flooding), but we are working in cooperation with other authorities to get our job done as quickly and safely as possible,” he said.

The Bruce Highway remains flooded south of Gordonvale and just north of Innisfail

Police have warned people to avoid driving the road.

State Emergency Services crews have responded to almost 150 calls for assistance since 5am.

Twenty homes in Irvinebank, near Herberton, self-evacuated this morning fearing severe flooding as the nearby Ibis Weir approached capacity.

First cyclone of season crosses coast near Cairns.

The first cyclone of the season, cyclone Tasha has crossed the coast just south of Cairns near Gordonvale

Cairns cyclone preparedness was tested but flooding around town was mild, with more severe flooding to the south of Cairns. The water level at Peets Bridge at Goldsborough was 10 metres, cutting access to the tablelands via the Gillie's Highway.

Cyclone crosses Qld coast

Saturday, December 25, 2010 » 07:49pm

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Torrential rain has lashed Qld's far nth coast with Cyclone Tasha running out of puff near Cairns.

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Torrential rain has lashed Queensland's far north coast with Tropical Cyclone Tasha running out of puff between Cairns and Innisfail early on Christmas morning.

The Bureau of Meteorology reported that the rapidly fading category one cyclone made land about 5.30am (AEST) south of Cairns.

One home lost a roof at Mission Beach, 7000 properties lost power and the State Emergency Service (SES) responded to more than 150 calls for help, on top of the 417 calls statewide on Christmas Eve.

At Ravenshoe, two people and their cat and dog were rescued from a rooftop after floodwaters inundated their house.

Twenty households in Irvinebank, near Herberton, were evacuated after the nearby Ibis Weir approached capacity.

Cyclone Tasha was quickly downgraded to a tropical low, but flooding has become an even greater concern.

Goldsborough Valley recorded 279mm, with the next highest rainfall at Corsis with 277mm, followed by Topaz with 276mm.

Cairns received less than 100mm of rain.

Heavy rain is expected to persist during the next few days as the system moves southwest through to the Central Highlands and beyond.

The state disaster management group met in Brisbane on Christmas Day and Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts told reporters afterwards there were no reports of injuries.

'We ask people to be patient and cautious when they are out and about, there's still a lot of heavy rain in the far north,' he said.

'Fifteen centimetres of water can sweep a person off their feet, 60 centimetres or two feet can wash a car off the road, so there's very dangerous conditions up and down the coast.

'Queenslanders from the tip of Cape York right through to the Gold Coast and inland can expect very heavy rain, thunderstorms and localised flooding and roads cuts (for the next week).'

State disaster co-ordinator and deputy police commissioner Ian Stewart urged motorists to take note of road closures and beware of flash flooding.

Emergency Management Queensland spokesman Bruce Grady said the cyclone was short-lived, lasting just seven hours.

'We got what we expected ... a lot of rain on the back of a previous (high rainfall),' he said.

Authorities are still concerned for the welfare of five bushwalkers missing in two groups on Hinchinbrook Island, off the coast of Cardwell.

Three hikers were due to be picked up at the north end of the island at noon on Christmas Eve, but failed to arrive.

However, the other two were not due to finish their trek until Monday, police said.

A police spokeswoman said the island would have been hammered by Cyclone Tasha, but an assessment or search won't be possible until the weather improves.

Senior forecaster Greg Browning said the cyclone had been at the low end of the scale when it crossed between the townships of Gordonvale and Babinda.

'It was the weakest that a cyclone can be,' he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Browning said a second low pressure system in the Gulf of Carpentaria was not likely to reach tropical cyclone intensity.

'(The system) does look like it will intensify in the next few days, but it depends on its movements,' he said.

'It doesn't look like it will stay in the Gulf of Carpentaria long enough to develop into a tropical cyclone ... but things can change between now and then.'

It's also been a soggy Christmas for residents south of the cyclone zone. Gairloch and Dumbleton Rocks, near Mackay, had 83mm of rain and there were falls of 50mm to 80mm between Ingham and Mackay from 9am to 3pm (AEST).

Severe weather warnings are current for people living between Cardwell and St Lawrence, extending inland.

There are flood warnings for the following rivers: Mulgrave, Russell, Johnstone, Tully, Herbert, Ross, and Don, and adjacent streams Pioneer, Fitzroy, Burnett, Condamine-Balonne, Warrego and Thomson, Barcoo, and Cooper Creek.

Meanwhile in central Queensland, authorities have door-knocked residents in Theodore and held community briefings in preparation for floods as an overnight surge of water heads down the Dawson River.

Banana Shire deputy mayor Maureen Clancy told AAP six families had been evacuated, and five buildings were flooded so far.

'We're on high alert,' she said.

Authorities urge people to check road closure information at www.131940.qld.gov.au or www.racq.com.au/travel/maps-and-Directions/road-conditions

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Wet Xmas for Cairns

The tropical low is expected to cross the coast tonight, meaning Cairns will get wetter: expect a soggy Xmas with up to 500mm rainfall over the next few days.

Cairns weather

A stormy Cairns Christmas to all

Damon Guppy

Monday, December 20, 2010

DECEMBER might be a scorcher but prepare for a Christmas drenching with weather experts predicting a wet weekend to cap off a stormy week.

Thunderstorms struck across the Far North last night, ending a weekend in which temperatures soared well above the December average.

Cairns recorded about 34C on Saturday and yesterday, well above the monthly average of 31C.

The city is likely to cool off slightly today with rain and possibly more lightning storms forecast.

"We’ll probably see some reasonable showers until (tomorrow)," Cairns weather office duty forecaster Bill O’Connor said.

"It’ll probably ease back a bit on Wednesday … and potentially it’ll be wet as we head into the
weekend.

"At this moment I’d say we’d have a better chance of staying wet than dry over Christmas."

Mr O’Connor said the La Nina weather pattern had made conditions conducive for the formation of cyclones but the region should be spared until at least after
Christmas.

"It’s extremely unlikely we’ll see a cyclone before Christmas Day," he said.

Despite rain, maximum temperatures during the day were still likely to be above the December average today and the risk of sunburn was still very high with the ultra-violet index predicted to be extreme.

Towns elsewhere in the Far North received a soaking at the weekend, with more than 60mm of rain being recorded near Mareeba from 9am Saturday to 9am yesterday morning.

More than 75mm fell at Mourilyan and 55mm was recorded near Gordonvale.

Halifax, near Ingham, recorded about 95mm of rain.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Tropical low in coral sea

A tropical low is being tracked int the coral sea by BOM

Bureau Home > Weather and Warnings > Queensland > Forecasts > Tropical
Cyclone 3-day outlook for The Coral Sea
Tropical Cyclone 3-day outlook for The Coral Sea
IDQ10810
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Brisbane

Tropical Cyclone 3-day outlook for The Coral Sea
Issued at 2:30pm EST on Monday the 20th of December 2010 and valid until end of
Thursday

Existing cyclones:
Nil.

Potential cyclones:
A weak low southeast of Vanatinai [360km southeast of P.N.G] is forecast to
remain weak as it moves west. At this stage the weak low is not expected to
develop into a tropical cyclone.

Likelihood of a tropical cyclone developing in the Eastern Region on:
Tuesday: Very low
Wednesday:Very low
Thursday: Very low

NOTE: The likelihood is an estimate of the chance of each system being a
tropical cyclone in the Region for each day:
Very low: less than 5% Low: 5% - 20%,
Moderate: 20% - 50% High: Over 50%

The area of coverage for this outlook is the Coral Sea and Northern Tasman Sea
west of 160E.

Further information on Tropical Cyclones is available at:
http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/cyclone

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Cairns Weather Live Webcam

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Monday, December 13, 2010

Cyclone prediction check ((delay 12 hours))

In October the Cairns Weather Bureau was predicting an early cyclone season: we haven't had one yet but we've had plenty of wet weather. When will the first cyclone come?

Cairns Cyclones

Cairns is expecting a bumper year for cyclones this year with up to 6 cyclones predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology. Cyclones in Cairns can have a major impact on infrastructure on tourism. Cairns weather is expected to be hotter and wetter than average.

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Up to six cyclones expected says bureau

THE weather bureau has warned Queenslanders to prepare for a cyclone before the year is out. Plus your complete cyclone survival guide.

A seasonal average of four cyclones typically forms in the Coral Sea each cyclone season, but that number is likely to be higher this summer.

Forecasters say up to six cyclones will develop and there is a risk one will cross the coastline by the end of the year.

Cairns' wet and wild weather here to stay | Early cyclone season tipped for FNQ | Cyclone Survival Guide

The La Nina phase, which has caused above- average rainfall in the Far North this spring, is expected to remain dominant into next year.

And people have been urged to prepare early for the onslaught.

"Prepare early for not only cyclones but also for floods," the weather bureau’s Queensland regional director Jim Davidson said.

"We encourage communities to factor in the possibility of a destructive cyclone or major flood into their pre-season planning."