Rain WA
Submitted: Friday, Dec 17, 2010 at 14:13
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rocco2010
Gidday
As most of you are probably aware it has been very dry in WA this year and most of us have looked enviously at the Eastern States, wondering if if they could have been given a bit less while we got a bit more.
There has been a huge rain event in the Gascoyne overnight with a rain band from a tropical low dumping nearly a year's rainfall on
Carnarvon in a 24-hour period.
Here are some of the figures:
Carnarvon Aiport 201 mm
Meeragoolia 156 mm
Fishy Pool @ Gascoyne River 99 mm
Winderie 71 mm
Mingah Springs 59 mm
Shark Bay Airport 101 mm
Marron 137 mm
Mily Mily 70 mm
Meekatharra 40 mm
This rain will be very welcome for the pastoralists in the Gascoyne and Murchison who mostly rely on the remnants of summer cyclones for their rain and they have been few and far between in recent years.
It is expected the rain will affect the northern goldfields in the next few days.
Cheers
Roccol
Reply By: Member - Old Girl (QLD) - Friday, Dec 17, 2010 at 15:45
Friday, Dec 17, 2010 at 15:45
About time. Can you remember what rain feels like?
Our dam is still only 28%. The storms the tv is going on about are short bursts of quick wind and rain (storm cells) in
Brisbane. The most for us so far in one hit was yesterday 20ml that included hail. We watch many pass by. Queensland dosnt go past the great divide hehe.
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Reply By: equinox - Friday, Dec 17, 2010 at 20:52
Friday, Dec 17, 2010 at 20:52
I wonder if the Murchison will flow?
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Follow Up By: rocco2010 - Friday, Dec 17, 2010 at 21:58
Friday, Dec 17, 2010 at 21:58
Now that is something I want to see! I remember way back when I were a lad probably in the 70s there was a big Murchison flood and MMA (remember McRobertson Miller Airlines) ran weekend trips to
Geraldton and then bussed people to see it. My uncle went and he said it was the most amazing thing seeing the
water raging through the gorges in the
Kalbarri National Park. There was a flood a few years ago but i seem to recall it was a gentler thing.It has already crossed my mind to be ready for a weekend run north!
If you hunt around on the web with google you will find a story about some guys who travelled down the Murchison by boat from way out in the pastoral country (
well not way out for people like you!) when it was flowing. can't remember when but it is a good read
Cheers
Rocco
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Follow Up By: new boy - Saturday, Dec 18, 2010 at 11:11
Saturday, Dec 18, 2010 at 11:11
Rocco2010
The Murchison flooded couple of years back late January/early Feb we went up few days after the peak the dunny at the Galana bridge
camp site had about a foot showing over the
water.They sand bagged the main street of
Kalbarri which saved the pub and the shops along that stretch Chinaman,s beach gone and there was a full flow out the mouth. Amazingly all the crayboats moorings poped up after the river went down.
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Follow Up By: equinox - Saturday, Dec 18, 2010 at 13:26
Saturday, Dec 18, 2010 at 13:26
Mid Feb 2008 I tried to cross twice to get to the
Carnarvon Mullewa Road from the east. Once east of Meeberrie and again just west of Twin Peaks. I didn't risk the crossing's so had to go south. Judging from the
water marks on signs etc, the
water level gets much much higher.
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Reply By: Member - Warrie (NSW) - Saturday, Dec 18, 2010 at 10:17
Saturday, Dec 18, 2010 at 10:17
Hi rocco. Looks like the Gascoyne is flooding already but it has not yet reaced Nine Mile Bridge at
Carnarvon. Someone will have to go and paint the
water level on the marker on the old bridge. Link to Bom rain and rivers here:
http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/flood/gascoyne.shtml
The Murchison only has one flood gauge just upstream of
Kalbarri. The view of the river in flood from
Nature's Window should be a beauty although there has not been as much rainfall in this catchment as over the Gascoyne. Pity it couldn't wash away all those feral goats in
Kalbarri NP..... W
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Follow Up By: Road Warrior - Saturday, Dec 18, 2010 at 19:47
Saturday, Dec 18, 2010 at 19:47
The Gascoyne is tipped to flood around midnight, many of the roads in town are already flooded but the next 24 hours are going to be make or break. Family up there are shoring up the flood defences (literally) and the NW coastal highway is closed from Overlander to Minilya.
Hope it bloody
well clears before Christmas as I have to drive up there from
Perth on Boxing Day!!!
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