Heavy rain does little to quench drought - Australia. by Steph Ball
Severe thunderstorms bought torrential rains and damaging winds across parts of Queensland during Thursday and again today.
The storms moved northeast across the northern Gold Coast and into Brisbane causing some localised flooding and resulting in power outages to more than 7000 homes. It brought traffic chaos as it hit commuters setting off home to enjoy the Australia Day weekend.
The storms are said to have given Southeast Queensland their heaviest rain since last summer, with highest totals reported to be at Gold Coast Seaway, where 30mm fell.
However as the storms moved on to the west of Brisbane, a resident in Jimboomba reported that he had recorded a 120mm ( 4.7 inches ) in a downpour which lasted no more than half an hour!
As the Australian Meteorological Office renewed its severe thunderstorm warnings today for parts of Queensland, a mini-tornado was reported in Laidley to the west of Brisbane. Some damage was reported as winds strengthened and up to 20cm diameter hail fell.
Although the heavy rain is not to be sniffed at, it is said to be doing little to quench the drought conditions which have materialised from months of below average rainfall. Although some of the rain was captured by dams it is not enough.
Western Australia too has seen its fair share of heavy rain, earlier this month, when a large storm brought severe flooding to the southern coastal town of Esperance.
This week, Australia’s Prime Minister John Howard declared the drought “one of the greatest challenges of our time” as he announced a multibillion dollar plan of water reforms to try and conquer the problem.
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