Impact of Heavy Rain and Flooding: Road Closures and Landslide Caused by Approaching Cyclone

NewsFinale Journal

10 months ago

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As the threat of a tropical cyclone looms in the Coral Sea off the coast of Cairns, the state’s north has been pummelled by massive rainfall which has turned into a dangerous landslip.

Some areas were drenched with heavy rainfall exceeding 300m, including 346mm in The Boulders.

Some areas across Far North Queensland were drenched with heavy rainfall exceeding 300m (Windy.com)

The flooding has resulted in major road closures across Cairns including parts of the Bruce Highway and a landslide closed down the Kuranda Range Road.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued another severe weather warning today for the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands district.

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A surface low is lying off the coast of northeast Cairns and has whipped up a rainy high pressure ridge, pushing the rain inland.

The bureau warns this heavy rain may lead to further flash flooding over the northern beaches of Cairns, plus coastal communities and islands in the region.

Rainfall topping 240mm is also possible over the next 24 hours in the Cairns area.

A surface low is lying off the coast of northeast Cairns. (Weather IQ)

An active monsoon trough moving into the Australian region over the next two weeks is likely to produce more rainy weather and a chance of a tropical cyclone remains moderate.

The tropical low off the coast of Cairns now has a 25 per cent chance of developing into a cyclone.

Queensland Police is expected to provide updates on the severe weather conditions moving across Far North Queensland later today.

The flooding has closed a large part of the Bruce Highway. (Facebook)

Meanwhile, heatwave conditions remain across the Gulf Country, North West and Channel Country Districts, with maximum temperatures in the low- to mid-40s.

Brisbane and Townsville are both forecast to reach a top of 32 degrees, while Mackay, Cairns, Toowoomba, Surfers Paradise and Noosa Heads are set to hit 30 degrees today.