EARLY rain across North Queensland has sparked hope the La Nina will deliver a more traditional wet season.
With rain falling in vast swathes of the north and north west throughout December, producers are reminiscing on the wet seasons of old.
Richmond Shire Council Mayor John Wharton said the district had received beautiful rain since Christmas Eve.
"We've had a bit over nine inches here in Richmond," Cr Wharton said.
"We got 55mm in the first storm, which set us up, and we've been getting 6-7mm every night - it's great, it really is back to the old seasons.
"It came in and started that night and then basically in the old wet seasons when the monsoon arrived we've got sunshine during the day and rain at night.
"You can't ask for anything better, the heat and humidity has germinated the grass and the sunshine is really important in the daytime."
Cr Wharton said it was the best start to a wet season in at least three to four years.
"Some people might have only got four-five inches, but it is still good for December and New Year, considering February is normally our wettest month."
Further west, Mount Isa recorded its wettest December day in 50 years of records when 115mm fell on December 21.
Katrina Dare of May Downs Station, about 30km north west of Mount Isa, had 109mm to 9am on December 22 - the best falls they had seen since February or March.
"We don't normally see any rain like this until the end of January or February," Ms Dare said.
Meanwhile, widespread rain was recorded in the Gulf and along the North Queensland coast this week in the wake of ex-tropical cyclone Imogen, which crossed the coast north of Karumba about 9pm on Sunday.
Normanton copped the brunt of the early rainfall, with 262mm falling and a wind gust of 100km/h being recorded.
Jane Kidd of Tabletop Station, 25km north of Croydon, received 196mm in the wake of Imogen.
"It started to rain on and off Sunday afternoon and went right through for half of the day Monday," she said.
"It was not too heavy, just good soaking rain.
"We were flooded right up around the house, but it rushes by pretty quickly."
Mrs Kidd said they were yet to inspect the extent of the damage to their 61,500 hectare property, but expected fences would need repairs.
However, she said the rain was welcome.
"We had a bit in December, Boxing Day we got 75mm, there was a green tinge but the grass hasn't grown much, it's only just starting off.
"Hopefully it keeps coming and doesn't just stop now."
At Huonfels, 46km north-west of Georgetown, John Bethel got about 190mm.
He said kilometres of fencing had been felled and he spent Tuesday shifting cattle to secure paddocks.
"There's been some massive rain around here."
But while producers in the Gulf were celebrating, the tropical low is creating havoc as she makes her way down the coast.
On Wednesday morning, the low pressure was sitting off the coast near Ingham and the town was copping a drenching.
Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Kimba Wong said Ingham Pump Station had received 298mm in the 24 hours to 9am Wednesday, with 121mm of that falling in just one hour to 7am.
Halifax received 285mm in the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday, while further north, Clump Point received 264mm and Bingil Bay 224mm.
The Bruce Highway was cut in both directions on Wednesday morning, with the Seymour River over to the north of town and Townsville Road inundated forcing road closures at Andy's Roadhouse and Frosty Mango with the south.
The heavy rain caused flash flooding around Ingham, leaving the towns of Lucinda, Taylors Beach and Halifax isolated.
A major flood warning was in place for the Upper Burdekin and Herbert Rivers.
Charters Towers may be cut off from Townsville for days with the Macrossan Bridge on the Flinders Highway at Sellheim likely to close as the Burdekin River continues to rise.
"There was quite intense rainfall and a severe weather warning is in place from Ingham to Bowen," Ms Wong said this morning.
She said rainfall rates were expected to ease throughout Wednesday, with heavier falls later in the week likely to be isolated and associated with thunderstorms.
Another weather system pushing up from the south may deliver more rain to North Queensland on the weekend.
Ms Wong said that system may bring storms to the Darling Downs, Granite Belt and Central Highlands in coming days.
