Welcomed rain across North West Queensland saw two water catchments reach capacity and spill over their walls.
Chinaman Dam saw gushing water topple over the spillway when Cloncurry experienced its wettest day of the year on Sunday (January 15).
Cloncurry recorded 56.8mm bringing January’s total to 111.2mm. This was well above average of 2016’s monthly total of 43.2mm.
Chinaman Dam was not the only water catchment that spilled over the weekend.
Located 80-kilometres north of Mount Isa, Lake Julius had been sitting at 100 per cent since before Christmas, but after receiving 11.8mm on Sunday it could not take anymore. It was enough to spill over the wall and bring January’s rainfall total to 168mm.
Wide spread showers over the weekend saw more rain across North Queensland with Julia Creek recording 39.4mm, Richmond 1.4mm, Mount Isa Mine 10mm and Charters Towers 1.4mm.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts unstable conditions will continue across North Queensland for the rest of the week, with an inland upper trough causing showers and thunderstorms.
Cloncurry’s outlook for today is 80 per cent chance of showers and patchy rain (5 to 10mm), subsiding by this afternoon. The rest of the week has less chance of rain with only a shower or two expected before a sunny weekend.
Samantha Campbell
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
