Record Rainfall Triggers Flooding and Rescue Efforts Across Inland Queensland
Severe thunderstorms continue to lash the region, cutting off communities and raising concerns about flash flooding while bringing relief from prolonged drought conditions.
- A monsoonal trough has brought record-breaking rainfall to inland Queensland, with some areas receiving up to 180mm in 24 hours.
- Severe thunderstorm warnings remain in effect, with predictions of additional heavy rainfall and flash flooding in central and southern Queensland.
- Flooding has severed transport links and isolated communities in Queensland, South Australia, and the Northern Territory, prompting ongoing rescue operations.
- The heavy rains are expected to fill Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, providing environmental benefits for wildlife but also creating hazards such as wildlife on flooded roads.
- Outback residents and officials welcome the rain as a reprieve from prolonged drought, though some businesses face disruptions due to isolation caused by floodwaters.