Just a quick note of advice for those planning to head to the Interior, the North and the
Kimberley, very shortly.
You may have seen the news item about
Darwin and some parts of the Territory getting heavy unseasonal rainfall, just a few days after the official start of the "Dry" season - but what the media has largely missed, is that the
Kimberley has also had some substantial falls of rain at the same time - and more is forecast for this coming week.
Rainfalls recorded to 9:00M this morning (Wednesday 4th May) are as follows;
Timber Creek - 47mm
Flora Valley - 55mm
Gibb River - 56mm
Halls Creek - 29mm
The weather Bureau is forecasting that a broad trough containing a lot of tropical moisture is going to cover the
Kimberley and extend into the NT from the start of next week - and further falls of 15 - 30mm are expected in many
places, with the possibility of falls up to 100mm in some
places.
So, this is just a heads-up to be aware that a lot of
places in the North could become quite damp, and a few creeks could be on the rise, in the coming week or 10 days.
Between tomorrow and next Monday, there is also substantial rainfall predicted from an unrelated broad trough, in areas ranging from the Eastern
Pilbara through the Interior, to Western and Central QLD.
Make sure you
check the BOM weather forecast for any of these areas that you might be planning to
camp or move into, or through, over this coming period, so you don't get any shocks!
This unseasonal rain follows on from what has been the driest Wet season for 11 years in the
Kimberley.
I thought it was dreadfully dry from the 2014/2015 Wet season in the North, and I was disappointed at how much of the North looked very parched at the end of the previous Wet - but this last Wet just gone, was even drier.
As a result, the rain will no doubt be very welcome, even if it is unseasonal.
Synoptic chart
Cheers, Ron.