Following the East Coast Floods, a New Analysis Warns of a Rise in ‘Extreme’ Rainfall in Australia

A recent analysis warns of an increase in intense, quick bursts of rainfall across Australia.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology's Special Climate Statement 76, brief and heavy rainstorms have risen by roughly 10% in some places during the last decade, particularly in the north.

According to the research, which was issued in the aftermath of the devastating floods that struck Queensland and New South Wales earlier this year, the changing climate will cause heavier rainfall events to grow more extreme in the future.

Flood forecast in Australia

(Photo : Dan Peled/Getty Images)

The Pacific La Nia weather pattern has stagnated, but a crucial Indian Ocean climate driver is shifting towards a wetter phase, increasing the likelihood of severe rain and flooding in eastern Australia, as per The Guardian.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a special weather report on the severe torrential rains that hit parts of south-eastern Queensland, northern New South Wales, and the Sydney region in February and March, and its fortnightly report on climate influences predicted that the wet spell would last for months.

The potential of wetter-than-normal conditions for the east coast, in particular, raises worries of more flooding.

Because catchments are still wet and dams are full, it won't take much rain to produce further flash floods and destruction.

According to the bureau's special climate report, a series of low-pressure systems this year triggered significant floods in Lismore, Brisbane, and other areas.

According to the study, more than 50 locations in south-eastern Queensland and north-east NSW received more than one meter of rain in the week ending March 1.

The Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment to Sydney's west and north saw the wettest nine- and 14-day spells in records dating back to 1900 for those dates up to March 9.

The incidents were uncommon, according to Karl Braganza, national manager of the bureau's climate services.

According to Braganza, to generate such high multi-day rainfall totals, you need either very slow-moving systems or quasi-stationary systems.

That arrangement, particularly for the Brisbane event, just remained in place for an extended length of time.

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Residents are again in grave danger

According to the Bureau, more than 50 places received more than one meter of rain during the February and March storms in one week, as per 9News.

According to the study, some locations received 2.5 to 5 times their monthly normal rainfall.

Destructive flash floods engulfed whole communities from Maryborough in Queensland to Grafton in New South Wales, killing 22 people.

According to the data, this was the wettest week in dozens of locations since 1990.

Some sections of south-eastern Queensland had their biggest flood peaks since 1893, according to the study, however the lower Brisbane and Bremer rivers, as well as Lockyer Creek, crested below the levels of the January 1974 and January 2011 floods.

The climate statements attempt to offer information about major weather occurrences that affect Australians.

The most current examination of the February-March floods has been added to a more than a 15-year archive of studies.

More flooding in Lismore

Residents in Lismore are being warned that additional flooding is possible as rain continues to fall in northern New South Wales.

The region has already seen catastrophic floods in recent months, and the Bureau of Meteorology has warned that more may be on the way following rain over the weekend.

On Monday morning, minor flood warnings were issued for the Wilsons River in Lismore, as well as the Richmond River in Coraki and Bungawalbin.

Last weekend, the southeast was put on flood alert after more than 100mm of rain fell on numerous waterlogged catchments and dams, causing them to release water ahead of additional rain.

The Sunshine Coast neighborhood of Maroochydore had 122mm of rain in the 24 hours leading up to 9 a.m. last Sunday.

Mooloolaba received 112mm, with moreover 100mm falling farther south at Parrearra Weir and inland at Mountain Creek.