Basics when planning an adventure - check the weather!
Submitted: Thursday, Jun 29, 2023 at 20:05
ThreadID:
145936
Views:
2974
Replies:
4
FollowUps:
3
This Thread has been Archived
Member Kerry W (Qld)
It s pretty obvious that heaps of rain is going to hit certain parts of the outback over the next week or so.
Being a bit of a weather watcher I would always head to
places like
Esperance,
Albany, Fitzgerald National Park etc when there was a high in the bight - always assured of a great experience with warm dry air from over the continent blowing out to the southern Ocean. I'd just leave when the weather took a bad turn. Same with Fraser (K'gari), the
Vic High Country,
Cape York and the Simpson.
Mind you I have quite often headed up to north Qld during cyclone season or during really heavy rain to visit family - knowing how the regions roads and rivers respond to heavy rainfall - lifelong experience having lived there...but also watching river levels inland from the highways.
However "IF" you are not overly familiar with the outback, or spent most of your life in the city...and are enjoying a school holiday escape... - I reckon it might be be a good idea to give the outback a miss at the moment with the predicted rainfall.
All to many people see the ads on TV about how their 4wd can zoom through water and mud and think - "OH good a 4wd challenge" - its just not much fun.
Not to mention danger, wrecking roads and getting rescued - maybe I'm a killjoy but sometimes you just gotta know your limitations...oh... by the way I monitored and reported Road conditions in those areas for many years and got a feel for what it takes to close them - a lot less than what is coming....
Apologies if I'm stating the bleeding obvious....
Reply By: Rob J8 - Friday, Jun 30, 2023 at 09:39
Friday, Jun 30, 2023 at 09:39
I am sitting in my van at the
Mareeba Rodeo ground FNQ and the cloud is coming in from the same way my sat dish is pointing; as a West Aussie I don't know much about which way a big rain comes from in June-July but Livio Regano on the 7
Cairns weather reckons we are going to cop a drenching in
Cairns, Monday and Tuesday. Guess where we've booked from the 1st July; yes ,
Cairns for 28 days, so hopefully we don't get the 40odd mls they're predicting because Cool Waters CP has a creek running through it. All the cane and veggie growers and the cattle cockies up here on the tablelands are licking their lips and hoping their paddocks get a good drink; save them a few bob from reticulating water from
Lake Tinnaroo.
Don't worry, I've got a good length of chain to tie up the 200 series.
AnswerID:
644029
Follow Up By: Member - Warren H - Friday, Jun 30, 2023 at 13:39
Friday, Jun 30, 2023 at 13:39
Four hundred mm of rain in the wet tropics is not the same as that amount inland. The runnoff is much quicker. As long as it was over a couple of days it shouldn't be too much of an issue once the rain has gone. But 400mm in July, that is quite unseasonal. Good luck, interested to know your experience at the CP, it's been there for more than 40 years if I remember correctly.
FollowupID:
923931
Follow Up By: Rob J8 - Friday, Jun 30, 2023 at 17:10
Friday, Jun 30, 2023 at 17:10
Sorry Warren, it does look like 400 mls, should have read, 40 odd mls. The boys out in the Eastern wheatbelt of WA would like 40 mls Monday and Tuesday when the next cold front comes through.
FollowupID:
923932
Follow Up By: Member - Bigfish - Friday, Jun 30, 2023 at 19:11
Friday, Jun 30, 2023 at 19:11
You,ll have no problems at the park. Couple of years ago it really copped a flooding with vans washed away and cabins inundated with water/rain. Much damage in the local area. All fixed now and a great place to stay.
FollowupID:
923934