Western Queensland has been drenched in “nearly monsoonal-like” rains, which has shattered an 83-year weather record. The rainstorm, which began on Saturday, dumped more than five times the usual April rainfall in regions of central-west Queensland. The rainiest April day in decades was recorded in Blackall, Winton, and Longreach. Since 1918, Barcaldine had not had a wetter April day. In just 24 hours, the Home Creek station near Blackall in outback Queensland received 208 mm of rain. It was the most rain the region had experienced in a day since records began in 1939, according to the estate’s rain data.
“It’s nice rain and lovely water.” “It’ll get us ready for the winter,” said grazier Marcelle Chandler. “Without any good rain, it was approaching late in the season.” Tony Rayner, the mayor of Longreach, was overjoyed. He said, “It was more than nice, it was bloody fantastic.” “Many properties received up to 100 to 200mm of rain, the best we’ve seen in a long time.” The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) was likewise caught off guard by the deluge. It stated that substantial rainfall at this time of year was extremely unusual for the central west. “Those greater rainfalls are usually seen earlier in the year,” BOM forecaster Steven Hadley said.
Several main roads were closed across the region as creeks and river systems swelled. Longreach was blocked off from the surrounding towns by floodwaters yesterday, and people joked that it “looks like an island.” “Fortunately, the flooding has reduced significantly this morning, as evidenced by an inspection early this morning,” Mr Rayner said. “No homes were flooded. Some homeowners’ yards did receive some free watering, which they will appreciate.” For graziers who were struggling to feed stock after a dry summer, the rain has been “game changing.” After more than 150mm of rain fell on his land, grazier Andrew Peterson cancelled plans to sell his herd due to a lack of fodder.
“I was initially really concerned about the year ahead of us,” Mr Peterson explained. “Due to the dry, we had to wean the cattle early and sell them at a period when we rarely sell animals. “But now that I can see ahead for the next 12 months, it’s just a huge relief. Despite the fact that her fences are likely to be damaged, Ms Chandler said she would “enjoy the rain any day.” Ms Chandler described the rain as “nearly monsoonal-like” for 24 hours. “Until we do a fence run, the faces are all smiles.”
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