Issued at: 1:55pm on Thursday, 21 April 2022
A Severe Weather Warning is current for heavy rainfall for parts of the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands, and the Herbert and Lower Burdekin districts.
A Flood Watch is also current for coastal catchments north of Rollingstone to the Daintree with flash flooding possible for some areas.
Meteorologist Harry Clark said showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected to increase along the tropical east coast today with heavy to locally intense rainfall possible, especially on Thursday to Saturday.
“The locations of heaviest falls depend on the position of the trough,” Mr Clark said. “The heaviest of the rainfall is likely to move north of Cairns over the weekend, and possibly southward over the North Tropical Coast early next week.
“Daily rainfall totals of 50 to 150 mm are likely, with localised 24-hour totals of 200 to 300-plus mm possible, most likely from today into Friday.
“Parts of the tropical east coast, especially the Cassowary Coast, could receive a metre of rainfall over the next few days.”
Mr Clark added that winds are likely to increase about the coastal fringe and adjacent ranges of the Cassowary Coast from late today and into the weekend as a strengthening ridge combines with a coastal trough. Damaging wind gusts are not expected.
“Strong Wind Warnings are current for the coastal waters from Cairns to Mackay coasts, becoming more extensive about the east coast for Friday and the weekend, including as far south as the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
Meanwhile, moderate flooding continues for the Balonne River in south-west Queensland, with levels expected to remain high as a water from the Condamine moves downstream.
The Bureau is recommending communities stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings through the and BOM Weather app.
