Australia’s Queensland is bracing for days of widespread rainfall this week, as a moisture-laden low-pressure system spawned by weakening ex-tropical cyclone Maila tracks toward the state after forming off northern Southeast Asia. While most of the country is set to see mild, stable conditions over the coming days, Queensland residents will face steady, soaking rain starting Tuesday, driven by tropical moisture carried by the former cyclone system. Though Maila remains active far off Australia’s northeast coast, bringing disrupted conditions across Micronesia and the Philippine Sea, its residual atmospheric moisture is set to push across northern Queensland over the coming days, senior Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) meteorologist Dean Narramore confirmed. The system, which is currently generating heavy rain storms near Willis Island, will move steadily westward to cover most of northern Queensland north of the Rockhampton corridor, Narramore explained. “It will generally be a widespread soaking rain for many communities across the region,” he noted, adding that while Mt Isa is forecast to see the bulk of precipitation, officials do not anticipate widespread severe flooding from the event. Forecast data from the BOM shows wet conditions will persist through the weekend for most regions north of Rockhampton. Over the four-day period from Tuesday to Friday, most affected areas can expect total rainfall between 25 and 50 millimeters. Further north, stretching from the Whitsundays through Cairns, Townsville, the Gulf of Carpentaria, and the Cape York Peninsula, totals are expected to reach between 50 and 100 millimeters. By the end of the week, the rain system is projected to drift west into the Northern Territory. Across the rest of Australia, conditions will remain far drier than in Queensland. Western Australia is forecast to see a mostly warm, dry week, with only isolated thunderstorms that may reach Perth on Tuesday and Wednesday. South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania will all see cool, dry conditions through the week, while eastern Australia and most of New South Wales will experience mild temperatures below the seasonal average. This report was updated most recently on the day of publication, by reporter Jack Nivison.
Queensland due for soaking as ex-tropical cyclone Maila downgrades into tropical low
