Wet weather tales by Kirsty McCabe
A powerful winter storm is making its way across the southwest part of the United States, dumping feet of snow on higher ground and heavy rain at lower levels.
Rain-soaked California got even wetter on Monday as yet another storm dumped heavy snow in the mountains, eroded beaches and closed down a 40-mile stretch of Interstate 5 – a major highway.
Throughout the past week California has been battered by severe storms that caused widespread flooding. More storms are expected later this week, as the winter low responsible intensifies. That will bring heavy rain and snow for the southern Rockies, the central Plains, the middle Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes.
On the plus side, all the rain that has fallen in recent months should trigger brilliant displays of colour to the wildflowers in the Colorado and Mojave Deserts this spring.
It has also been very wet across Queensland, Australia recently. At this time of year, northeast Australia experiences high amounts of rainfall as the InterTropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) moves southwards, usually bringing a monthly rainfall total of around 385 mm (15 inches).
However, in just over four days, an incredible 588 mm (23 inches) of rain has fallen on the town of Lockhart River, which lies on the Cape York Peninsula about 200 miles northwest of Cairns.
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