WITH meteorologists forecasting higher rainfall, above average flooding and a stronger possibility of cyclones this wet season, Weipa Town Authority chairman Michael Rowland has called on residents to begin their seasonal preparations early.
He said this year had brought more intense than usual weather across the northern hemisphere, especially in the Philippines, which has been battered by 10 typhoons, including last month’s Category 5 super typhoon Goni.
“Based on what we have seen overseas recently, especially in the Philippines, it indicates that we need to prepare ourselves for heavy rain,” Mr Rowland said.
“All our messages from BoM and State Disaster Management also indicate there is a higher possibility of cyclone activity this season. We could be looking at four cyclones across northern Australia.
“We can handle the rain – it’s the heavy winds that cause the most damage.”
Mr Rowland said the WTA had spent recent weeks identifying and felling suspect trees as part of the routine preparations for strong winds and downpours.
He called on residents to begin their household cyclone preparations.
“A lot of people leave town to visit family over Christmas, so I just ask that everyone ensures they do their cyclone checks before they leave,” the WTA chairman said.
According to BoM, the La Nina is expected to continue to strengthen with a peak in December or January followed by an easing in February.
Based on weather data collected since 1970, the first tropical cyclone to form off the Australian coast typically occurs in mid-December in La Nina years, which is about two weeks earlier compared to non-La Nina years.
NOVEMBER RAINFALL
WHILE Weipa missed most of the rain that poured in the Cape last week, there were some good measurements recorded in parts of the Peninsula.
Bramwell Station tipped out 160mm from the rain gauge, while Moreton Telegraph Station had 122.6mm to Sunday.
Officially, the Weipa Airport measured just 29.4mm of rain in November, while RAAF Base Scherger recorded 33.2mm.
In Rocky Point, 25.2mm was measured for the month up until 9am yesterday (November 29).
Aurukun recorded 22mm for the month, while Merluna Station enjoyed 71.6mm.
Piccaninny Plains Station had 62mm and Southwell Station measured 47.4mm in November.
Kowanyama had some good rain, with 55.6mm recorded in the gauge, Coen had 12mm and Lockhart River 53.8mm.
Elsewhere, 76.2mm fell at Horn Island, while Cooktown recorded 77.4mm for the month.
