Nearly every state in main land Australia is being hit hard by a destructive weather pattern with flooding in Queensland, torrential rain in New South Wales, Victoria and later this week South Australia and massive bushfires in Western Australia. The worse at present is the massive flooding in Queensland and the destruction in Toowoomba and the loss of live in the fast flowing torrent as seen in the news report below.
2011-01-11 14:50:30
About 150 firefighters, who have been battling since Monday night, had the Western Australia's bushfire contained but not secure, with winds later on Tuesday expected to hamper firefighting efforts.
Hundreds of residents were forced to flee their homes on Monday afternoon shortly after the blaze broke out at Lake Clifton, 100 km south of Perth, Western Australia.
Police have confirmed that four houses were destroyed but believed at least another two were burnt down as the fire swept through the area. Farm sheds, livestock, vehicles, powerlines and fences have also been destroyed.
The bushfire has so far burnt about 2,000 hectares, and authorities said the blaze developed from about several smaller fires that had been deliberately lit.
According to Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) incident controller John Tillman, the fire had a containment track around it, but firefighters still had a lot of work to do with " hot edges" burning trees and downed powerlines.
"If we can get through today holding the current perimeter then we will be reasonably confident,"Tillman told Australia Associated Press on Tuesday.
Tillman said several ignition points had been found for the fire, indicating arson, and it was infuriating for firefighters and the community that fires were deliberately lit.
"Their livelihoods, their homes can get destroyed just through some very careless or willful type arson,"he said.
About 200 residents who evacuated the threatened suburbs of Tuart Grove and Armstrong Hill attended a public meeting in Waroona on Tuesday, but were told roads remained closed and they may not be allowed to return to their home until Wednesday.
This weather front is now headed for New Zealand and should arrive on Friday - Saturday.
SA on flood watch
AAP
Regional areas of South Australia are on alert for possible flooding from the River Murray in the event of heavy rain.
A flood watch has been issued for pastoral areas in the north-east of the state, as well as the Flinders and Riverland districts for Thursday.
SES regional commander Scott Turner said the alert was "a heads up" for possible future flooding and was not a flood warning.
"Traditional drainage points, backwaters and wetlands along the River Murray may already be full with water which means additional water from the rain will be slower to drain away," he said.
Heavy rains had the potential to increase the risk of flash-flooding in the regions.
Mr Turner has urged people to take precautions, including to secure property and valuables and not to camp in creek beds.
© 2011 AAP
Flash floods likely to hit Victoria in coming days
Thomas Hunter
January 11, 2011 - 5:07PM
Floods heading for Victoria?
The Bureau of Meteorology issues a flash flood warning as a low pressure system slowly crosses the state.
As Queenslanders battle a deadly flood disaster, Victorians are being warned to brace for possible flash floods in coming days.
The State Emergency Service (SES) says up to 150 millimetres of rain is likely to fall over the next three days.
The rain is expected to ease on Thursday, but will return on Friday with heavy rains with strong winds and the potential for further flash flooding.
The Bureau of Meteorology today issued a severe weather warning for the south-west, north central, northern country, Wimmera, Mallee and central forecast districts.
People in those areas are being urged to prepare for flash flooding caused by local heavy rain and thunderstorms.
"A broad, slow-moving, low-pressure trough lies over Victoria. A tropical and unstable atmosphere will persist over the state for the next few days," the bureau's statement said.
Duty forecaster Michael Efron said the heaviest rainfall today occurred in central Victoria, with Mount William in the Grampians recording 30 millimetres of rain since 9am.
Archdale Junction recorded 25 millimetres in that time, while Charlton received 22 millimetres.
Today's rain was not enough to cause flash flooding, but the wet conditions were expected to persist, Mr Efron said.
"We're starting to see some decent totals through the north-west of the state," Mr Efron said.
"We're still seeing on the radar fairly large bands of rain moving down from New South Wales, as well as some thunderstorms up near Mildura."
At 3.30pm today the Bureau of Meteorology issued an initial minor flood warning for the Loddon River downstream of the Loddon Weir.
A minor to moderate flood warning has also been issued for rural areas along the Murray River at Wakool Junction, and for the Edward and Wakool rivers.
Melbourne had escaped much of the intense, localised rain today, but Mr Efron said it was expected to increase tonight and into tomorrow morning.
He said the current bout of damp, tropical weather would persist until Friday.
Melburnians woke to a steamy morning, with an overnight low of just 20.7 degrees at 6am.
Mr Efron said the tropical conditions were created by a low-pressure trough over western Victoria that had combined with moist, north-easterly winds.
He said the resulting weather system had pushed wet weather from the Tasman Sea into Victoria, leading to the heavy, localised storms that hit parts of the state overnight.
VICSES acting director of operations Tim Wiebusch urged Victorians to keep a watch on local conditions and be prepared for possible flooding and storm activity.
"Victoria has not seen such consistent rainfall events for a number of years, and we are urging people to stay alert and monitor your local conditions," Mr Wiebusch said.
He said SES volunteers and personnel from other emergency services were on standby across the state.
He warned people to never walk, ride or drive through floodwaters because this was the main cause of death during flooding.
with Megan Levy, AAP
As time allows I'll try to keep you updated.
~ Jim
It's now Wednesday and the news is covered with constant reports of the Queensland's floods. I just took a screen print of the approaching weather front coming down from the north. This will move right across the eastern states and it promises to dump a heap more rain.
To the north west there appears to be the beginning of a cyclone. These usually venture down our way producing heavy rain and are responsible of our outback being green for a long period last year. Lake Eyre normally fills once in a life time but lately is every year.
This graphic news reports says it all.
I'll post more as I find it.
Replies
I just received an email from Janet, a friend who lives in Samford just out of Brisbane. She works in the horse industry. I thought I would like to share.
Flood Update & TragedyPosted by: "lachlan and janet" sunmist@xxxxxxxxx
Thu Jan 13, 2011 3:27 am (PST)
It is a harrowing time here at the moment, and I have so many people writing and asking about things. Today has been heart-breaking and tragic of a nature closer to my self and I have been fighting back the tears.
Firstly, I have lost a work colleague to the "inland tsunami" that hit 3 days ago. The images of a man and his wife and child caught in the flash flood in swirling water and mud as filmed by Channel 7 and shown around the world, was one of our racing stewards, James Perry, with his wife and son. James was the chief steward of Harness racing in NSW before coming to Qld 2 months ago to accept a position with Racing Qld. His wife and son have been rescued and are in hospital. I now have unconfirmed reports his body was found late this afternoon, so we are all devastated.
I did get down to the Gold Coast races today, 120 kms away. The Gateway Motorway is open, and joins the M1 to the Gold Coast. All appears normal and the Motorway to the Sunshine Coast has been re-opened. This is the only route from North to South of the river, but it is open.
Unfortunately, I had to endue so many heart wrenching stories that have come to light first hand from the racing fraternity. Some may have heard of Clive Palmer, a billionaire and the richest man in the State. He is a keen harness racing man and has spent millions importing top horses from the USA. He has a training complex in the Lockyer Valley, with a young trainer in charge. As the water started to rise, they moved all the race horses and yearlings from the lower paddocks and stabled them in the barn. 31 horses were in the barn, all the racing horses I knew and have handled plus some yearlings. As the water rose swiftly, the trainer and one assistant scrambled onto the roof of the house for refuge as the water rose to the roof. They were there for 13 hours in the dark, till Clive arrived in his own personal helicopter and plucked them to safety. Clive found others clinging for life and ended up rescuing 16 more people. Unfortunately, the barn with the horses went under and all the horses are presumed drowned still locked in their boxes. Another person was trying to access the property today to see what is left, I am still waiting to hear. We hear about people in the media, but not much mention of livestock. The other horses on the main stud some 45 minutes away are all OK, so the initial report I got about them all being washed away was incorrect.
The supermarkets are low on stock so I found out today. Some obvious panic buying has seen fresh food, bread and milk vanish from the shelves along with most of the long life milk. I don't think we will starve and supplies will get back in OK, but in some areas all the shops and the supermarkets are completely under water. The main fresh food markets, Rocklea Markets is completely underwater and out of action. They supply Coles and Woolies. The other problem is the Lockyer Valley, so devastated is our main market garden area, and nothing remains much there at all.
On a better note, the RSPCA animal refuge was set to go under in Brisbane. They sent out a SOS for people to help take animals to look after. Scores of people turned up and every critter was "adopted". One couple arrived to adopt a dog and all that was left was a rooster, so they took that instead.
For the dog showing fraternity, no Samoyed people are in trouble, and I have had no reports of any people I am friends with in other breeds being in any trouble as yet, some are marooned and cut off, but as yet no reports of anyone being in serious trouble.
The water is now set to recede slowly. The true devastation will come to light and the horror of it all will be revealed.
Janet
South Africa is also having floods! Most of our dams are open for the first time in years. Many has lost their lives and homes as well. Crops are spoiled and most farmers had to evacuate their workers from their houses, and give them shelter in sheds. It really is wild here as well.
I guess it is part of it all.
Looks like the southern hemisphere in under flood to a certain extent. Brazil is also suffering from massive mudslides.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201101060179.html
Thanx Jim for this info and also this link. Things don't sound too good in the southern hemisphere, but then again we've had the coldest december here in 25yrs.