THE infamous rainfall ‘dome’ that prevents Townsville from getting significant rainfall has finally cracked – but the wet weather is not expected to last.
However, thunderstorm activity is expected to contact northward over the weekend with the potential for some decent falls inland from around Cardwell north.
The Gulf and Cape are also expected to receive some much needed rain, though there is no sign of any monsoonal activity so far this season.
Bureau of Meteorology Townsville Meteorologist Doug Fraser said the rainfall had been very intermittent and variable, with some places picking up reasonable falls.
In the 24 hours until 9am on Friday, the highest rainfall around Townsville had been at the Little Bohle River (40mm) and Bushland Beach (38mm).
Townsville Airport had received 32mm, but little had fallen over the Ross River Dam catchment areas, with the dam sitting on just 14 per cent capacity on Thursday.
“Since 9am it’s mostly been around 10mm-15mm in the Townsville area and we’re really missing out in the dam catchment areas,” Mr Fraser said.
He said there had been some decent falls around Chillagoe, while 84mm fell near Georgetown in the 24 hours to 9am.
Rankin Creek near Innisfail had the highest rainfall so far today with 68mm recorded in the six hours to 3pm.
“Where the thunderstorm activity is going to contract too, we still don’t have an active monsoon trough in this part,” Mr Fraser said.
“It is more active in the top end of the Northern Territory and we might see another cyclone develop in the Western Australian coastline going into next week.
“But in the Coral Sea we’re continuing to see very quiet conditions, there is no sign of any development over the next week.”
Mr Fraser said the ridge along the east coast would contract which would stabilise the atmosphere with thunderstorms contracting northward.
“We will continue to get some thunderstorms out west, that will be bigger and more severe,” Mr Fraser said.
“On the weekend on the coast north of about Cardwell will see thunderstorms continue on the weekend and inland from there we’ll see storms and again some moderate to heavy falls possible.”
The rain brought some much needed reprieve from stifling conditions in Townsville where the mercury reached 37C on Wednesday and 35C on Thursday.
Friday’s maximum reached 30C and 33C is forecast for the weekend.