Heat wave and flooding in Australia

A severe to extreme heatwave has developed across large parts of inland WA. Low intensity heatwave conditions are present about parts of eastern Victoria and Tasmania. Anomalies of up to 12 degrees have been observed

Record-breaking heatwave set to hit Western Australia

SMH,

22 January, 2015

East Pilbara residents would be advised to crank up the air conditioner and load the esky in preparation for potential record-breaking temperatures over the weekend.

The mercury is set to nudge a sweltering 50C in East Pilbara townships, incuding Telfer and Marble Bar, if current weather conditions persist.

A Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson said that hot interior winds were set to blast the region, unopposed by any mitigating breeze from offshore fronts.

"If nothing changes, it's quite likely that we will see temperatures in the range of 45-50 degrees. Records could be broken," the spokesperson said.

Marble Bar set a record of of 49.2C in January 1922, while Mardie, which holds the state record of 50.5C in February 1998, was forecast to reach 49C.

The national record is 50.7C, which was set at Oodnadatta in South Australia in January 1960.

Perth's 55-day dry spell continues, with a smattering of rain around the city early on Thursday not registering in gauges.

Our record longest dry spell of 83 days was set between December 15, 1974, and March 7, 1975.

Central Queensland rain: Falls exceeding 150mm possible for isolated areas

ABC,
22 January,2015



Isolated parts of central Queensland could experience rainfall totals in excess of 150 millimetres in a 24-hour period, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) says.



In its latest weather warning, the BoM said Mackay, Proserpine, Bowen, Hamilton Island, Sarina, Bundaberg and Gladstone could all experience heavy rain and damaging wind gusts from this afternoon.



Severe thunderstorms were also on the cards for some of those regions.



Heavy rainfall throughout the morning already led to a dozen road closures in the Mackay region.



At McCready's Creek near Mackay, 105mm was recorded in the 30 minutes to 11:50am (AEST).
A number of other locations in the area received 60mm to 90mm in an hour.



"Thunderstorms have been observed over parts of the Queensland coast and are forecast to become more widespread later today especially over inland parts, with locally heavy to very heavy falls of rain expected," the BoM's warning said.



"Isolated 24-hour totals in excess of 200mm are possible with thunderstorms.



"Damaging wind gusts of around 110kph are also possible with thunderstorms."



Heavy rain began falling on Wednesday as a trough moved into the region.



Heavy rainfall has led to flash flooding in Mackay



The biggest falls overnight were in Gladstone, which received more than 100 millimetres of rain.



On Wednesday night, swift-water rescue crews plucked two drivers from cars stranded on flooded roads west of Rockhampton.



The rain cut off a number of roads in the region and the two motorists were rescued on the Capricorn Highway near The Willows and the Gregory Highway, north of Springsure.



Authorities said both people were safe and well after their ordeal.



The Capricorn and Gregory highways have been closed, along with the Dawson Highway near Springsure and the Scenic Highway near Yeppoon.



Another flood rescue request north of Bundaberg on Thursday morning proved to be a false alarm.