Mount Isa welcomed the monsoonal rain over the weekend, after more than 163mm fell flooding causeways and closing roads across the region.
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With more than 51mm of rain falling in the last 24 hours.
Lake Moondarra capacity has risen from a mere 36% to 66% according to data collected on Saturday February 2 and Lake Julius has reached 100% capacity.
The Cloncurry River is in full flow while the Chinaman Creek Dam is spilling after a downpour in the last 48 hours.
An Emergency Alert was issued at 7.45am this morning by the Flinders Shire Council advising the Flinders River in Hughenden is expected to flood along with the Ernest Henry Bridge.
The bridge is closed.
More heavy rain is forecast to continue until the middle of next week but while the rain is music to our ears, it brings with it some serious safety concerns.
Mount Isa City Council warned of flooding along parts of Lake Moondarra Drive.
A Facebook post said “please drive with caution, use your lights, and do not enter flooded causeways in your vehicle or on foot.”
Police and other Emergency Services have echoed the same sentiments, however reports that some people have failed to heed the warnings, putting emergency service personnel at risk if an incident was to occur and a rescue needed to be performed.
The latest update according to the Bureau of Meteorology says the monsoonal trough that extends from the Gulf Country across the base of Cape York Peninsula to the east tropical coast, should remain almost stationary for the next few days.
A deepening tropical low lies on the monsoon trough over northwest Queensland.
This will lead to strong to gale force winds through the Gulf of Carpentaria with a risk of damaging winds developing across Cape York Peninsula over the weekend.
Forecast for the rest of Sunday and into early next week predicts heavy falls with temperatures in the mid-twenties.
Wind strength increasing to 30 to 45 km/h, east to southeasterly .
The chance of rain drops to 80% on Wednesday February 6.
Sunday 3 February
Possible rainfall: 50 to 70 mm
Monday 4 February
Possible rainfall: 15 to 30 mm
Tuesday 5 February
Possible rainfall: 10 to 25 mm
Wednesday 6 February
Possible rainfall: 15 to 25 mm
Thursday 7 February
Possible rainfall: 3 to 10 mm
Friday 8 February
Possible rainfall: 3 to 8 mm
Saturday 9 February
Possible rainfall: 0 to 5 mm
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