Arabic version: كوينزلاند تستعد لأسبوع من الزخات والعواصف
According to ABC News, Queensland is facing an unsettled week, with showers expected across most of the state and storm activity continuing in changing locations. The Bureau of Meteorology says a high-pressure area in the Tasman Sea is expected to drive onshore winds and moisture into Queensland for much of the week.
Senior meteorologist Steve Hadley said the weather pattern could bring showers and storms to different parts of the state from day to day. He said most of Queensland was likely to receive some rainfall during the week, including regions that were already soaked by weekend rain.
Central and western Queensland were the focus on Monday, with possible severe thunderstorm activity forecast around Winton, Longreach and Windorah during the afternoon and evening. The bureau said heavy bursts of rainfall and damaging wind gusts could occur, with warnings potentially issued.
Storms were also possible along the coast between Cooktown and Mackay, including Cairns and Townsville. Mr Hadley said rainfall totals there were probably not expected to be warning-worthy, although some east coast areas, including the south-east, could receive 10 to 30 millimetres and possibly isolated falls of 50mm or more. Minimal storms were expected in the south-east, though pockets of lightning were possible around Maryborough, the Wide Bay and Burnett, and the Granite Belt.
Three central-west Queensland locations broke October rainfall records in the 24 hours to 9am Saturday. Tullinar Station near Blackall recorded 102mm, breaking an 87-year record; Muttaburra received 101mm, surpassing a 72-year record; and Nive Downs near Charleville recorded 93mm, breaking its 46-year record. Cooler conditions also accompanied the rain, with some central Queensland areas barely reaching 20C at the weekend. Lochington reached 18C on Saturday, its lowest October maximum since records began there in 2010. The bureau expects dry conditions to return in late October before a likely warmer-than-average summer.
