North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

Well it looks like the Indian Ocean Oscillation index has made its way around to the N Q coast.

Very little of the rain has made its way south of Mackay.

Townsville area has been the recipient of a deluge up to 1.2 metres in the last week.

Lucinda area got 504mm in the last 22 hours (20 inches). And its still p.....g down. That's abnormal rain for this part of the world.

Bugger all south of Mackay.

ronje wrote:Well it looks like the Indian Ocean Oscillation index has made its way around to the N Q coast.

Very little of the rain has made its way south of Mackay.

Townsville area has been the recipient of a deluge up to 1.2 metres in the last week.

Lucinda area got 504mm in the last 22 hours (20 inches). And its still p.....g down. That's abnormal rain for this part of the world.

Bugger all south of Mackay.

About 800mm so far and looks like another few hundred coming for Prossy

just ross river dam is flowing at 215 % with more filling ,cant understand them releasing water though at night ,seems dangerous move for people down stream when they cant see whats its doing

al57 wrote:just ross river dam is flowing at 215 % with more filling ,cant understand them releasing water though at night ,seems dangerous move for people down stream when they cant see whats its doing

I think it is to catch the run out tide

Releasing the dam water immediately was recommended to the Local Counter Disaster Committee (which is responsible for organising the emergency response in the area) as it was reportedly 275% full. NOT following a recommendation like that at that time would expose community to even more danger if the dam wall burst and a huge wall of water simply went downriver. A gradual release would take pressure off dam wall and reduce danger. Similar to what happened with the Wivenhoe Dam in Brisbane a couple of years ago. I think the opening has reduced pressure on the wall by lowering it to 200% or so full.

Once rivers have that much floodwater in them, tide effect disappears.

Rain might diminish a bit over the next few days but the low at the bottom end of gulf is expected to cross the Cape, intensify and then come s/e down the coast (just off Townsville). Here we go again. Keep yr pool-floaties handy even if the rain does ease, Sullo.

The Fitzroy northern tributaries (Connors and Isaacs Rivers), rise inland of Sarina. Near Eungella and Kinchant Dams. Only a tiny bit of rain has fallen in those rivers (only enough to cause the Rocky barrage gates to open a few times). We've had showers but bugger-all real rain.

In Qld, EVERY local govt area has a Counter Disaster Dashboard organised via the Qld Emergency Services Dept (since last month).

Here's Townsville's http://disaster.townsville.qld.gov.au/

Your's Al http://disaster.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/

Whitsunday http://disaster.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au/ (bit of work to be done on this one yet. Get 'em off their bums. Sullo).

Rocky's http://emergency.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/

Note that the Rocky one gives the state of the barrage gates (open or closed). So visitors intending to fish the Fitzroy will know in advance if gates open. If open fishing around town reach is rats..t for a while. Very handy but a couple of little anomalies to be fixed before being put up on the Fishing the Fitzroy f/b page.

These are wonderful things IF you've got power.

BOM video here explaining the IOD ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6hOVatamYs

It is a cracker IOD this year ... see graphic.

And a good article ... https://www.smh.com.au/environment/clim ... 53208.html

Have to wonder if the IOD does affect northern weather, even though they say it is the south-east mainly affected - given that they thought El Nino and La Nina were the drivers until recently it sounds like they are still learning.