Christmas Week Weather Chaos Down Under; 70,000-acre Fire In Victoria, 12" Of Rain In Queensland, Some Snow Down South

Australia is being “hit with a mix of everything” as parts of Queensland flood, while fires threaten towns in Victoria and snow is forecast across three states, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

Emergency warnings were in place for fires burning in Victoria’s Grampians national park on Saturday, with residents from Watgania to Halls Gap being told to evacuate. The BoM also issued a severe weather warning for parts of Queensland, including the Herbert and Lower Burdekin, Central Coast and Whitsundays districts, as heavy rainfall has forced highways and airports to shut.

Roads were flooded and a major highway closed after a tropical low brought torrential showers to north Queensland, with widespread falls of up to 100mm. A number of locations between Cairns and Mackay endured more than 200mm in 24 hours, triggering a string of flood warnings, including in Townsville, where residents near the Bohle River and Bluewater Creek were told to prepare to leave on Friday night. Holidaymakers have been urged to rethink their travel plans or expect delays because of road closures, with the Bruce Highway among those affected. BoM meteorologist Angus Hines said Townsville received 300mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am Saturday, and while Proserpine recorded 250mm.

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In Victoria, about 28,000 hectares of the Grampians national park had been razed by Saturday morning, despite firefighters’ best efforts to control the blaze. Residents in nearby towns, including Bellfield, Halls Gap, Lake Fyans, Pomonal, Mafeking and Watgania have been told to leave immediately. Emergency services said firefighters had been able to slow the spread of the fire, but warned it would not be contained for weeks and the situation could change at any time. Hines said the fire would continue to burn for several days.

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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/21/fire-evacuations-floods-and-possible-snow-australias-wild-weather-in-the-lead-up-to-christmas