Queensland records 439.4mm of rain as man found dead in creek
A man died in Smothering Creek on Monday, and six campers were rescued in the Southern Downs after four days of heavy storms flooded the state.
By Lucas Chen ·
Blackdown Tableland, located near Rockhampton, recorded 439.4 millimeters of rain from Thursday to early Monday. This four-day total is the heaviest in the state during the current weather event, which has brought repeated storms and flooding to parts of Queensland.
Queensland police confirmed the death of a man in Smothering Creek at Boompa on the Fraser Coast. Emergency services responded shortly after 11:00 a.m. on Monday following reports of an unresponsive male. Police located the man on Boompa Road and declared him dead at the scene. An investigation has begun, and officers will prepare a report for the coroner.
In the Southern Downs region, floodwaters stranded six campers at a public campground in Leyburn. Queensland Fire and Rescue Swiftwater crews arrived at 7:45 a.m. on Monday to assist. By 11:15 a.m., the team had safely retrieved three men, aged 71, 47, and 26, and two women, aged 68 and 26. Police stated that none of the campers reported physical injuries.
The storm system affected a wide area across the state. From Thursday through Monday, torrential rain flooded rivers and roads in the south and east. On Monday, police reported flash flooding at Laidley Creek and Glenore Grove in the Lockyer Valley, west of Brisbane, which forced road closures. Other locations recorded heavy totals, with Lower Springbrook near the Gold Coast receiving 325.2 millimeters and Nambour near the Sunshine Coast receiving 314.2 millimeters. Brooweena, inland of K'gari, recorded 299.6 millimeters.
Meteorologist Angus Hines described the atmospheric conditions as unusual. He noted that widespread rain bands, heavy cloud cover, and cooler temperatures drove the storms. Hines explained that these conditions were driven by activity in the higher parts of the atmosphere. On Sunday evening, a fast-moving storm band linked southern Queensland to Bass Strait. This band crossed most states before the steering wind tapered off overnight over the Darling Downs.
Flood warnings remain active for several waterways. The Bureau of Meteorology lists alerts for Warrill Creek and the Bremer River in the Lockyer Valley, the Macintyre and Moonie rivers in the south, and the Mary River near the Sunshine Coast. Western Queensland also has warnings in place for the Warrego River at Charleville, the Bulloo River at Quilpie, and the Barcoo River at Blackall.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts that conditions will return to typical spring patterns as the week progresses. Hot and humid days are expected to give way to more subdued afternoon showers and storms.
Source: The Guardian
