October 15, 2017
Many parts of the South Burnett enjoyed a good drenching in Friday’s storms, with intermittent showers continuing right across the weekend.
Friday’s rain – and hail, in parts – caused some flash flooding, and strong winds accompanying the line of storms knocked branches down in many parts.
At one point on Friday, about 6000 Ergon Energy customers were without power in Kingaroy, Kumbia and Blackbutt due to storm damage.
Some residents in the Coverty and Durong areas reported being without power for much longer periods, up to 20 hours in one case.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Kingaroy Airport (where South Burnett data is measured) received a total of 25.4mm rain on Friday, 0.2mm on Saturday and 6.0mm to 8:00pm on Sunday.
The rainfall readings varied from nil to a few millimetres in areas south of Kingaroy to 80mm at Coolabunia. Heavy falls were also recorded in areas north and west of Murgon.
southburnett.com.au readers reported the following falls on Friday:
- Blackbutt – nil
- Booie – 15mm (Crawford Road), 39mm, 25mm (Burtons Road)
- Brigooda – nil
- Charlestown – 19mm
- Coolabunia – 75mm, 80mm
- Crawford – 50mm, 65mm
- Cushnie – 27mm
- Durong – nil
- East Nanango – 37mm, 40mm
- Ellesmere – nil
- Goomeri – 43mm, 54mm,
- Greenview – 36mm
- Haly Creek – nil
- Ironpot – nil
- Kingaroy – 35.5mm, 50mm, 19mm, 37mm, 31mm (Kingaroy-Barkers Creek Road), 36mm (Harris Road), 7mm (Couchmans Road)
- Kingaroy Heights – 34mm
- Kingaroy West – 35mm
- Mannuem – nil
- Murgon – 22mm
- Nanango – 50mm, 40mm (with hail)
- Proston – nil
- South Nanango – 15mm, 22mm, 60mm
- Tablelands – 23mm
- Taylors Road – 18mm
- Wattle Camp – 28mm
- Windera – 60mm
- Wondai – 35mm
- Yarraman – 2mm
Multiple lightning strikes shook residents, with several reports of bolts hitting buildings at PCA in Kingaroy.
* * *
Despite the rain, most weekend events went ahead as normal in the South Burnett.
On Saturday, the Kingaroy Speedway’s inaugural event for the 2017-18 racing season went off without a hitch, despite the muddy conditions on the Showground track.
The friendly rugby league games between Queensland Samoa and Cherbourg also went ahead at Cherbourg.
However, the Wondai v Warriors and Murgon Diggers v Nanango cricket matches were washed out, along with junior games.
The Goodchild Shield Carnival at Bundaberg was rain-affected but went ahead.
The week-long Colours of Yarraman Festival, organised by the Yarraman and District Progress Association, has had weather issues all week.
The launch event, Jazz on the Platform, went ahead last Saturday (October 7) despite rain, and this Saturday, the Garden Awards night at Heritage House went off smoothly.
The Cooyar Trail Bike Ride attracted a large group of competitors to Cooyar Showgrounds on Saturday and Sunday, with only a few changes made to the tracks because of the rain.
On Sunday, the Women In Workshirts walk, organised by BIEDO to mark International Day of Rural Women, went ahead at Wooroolin. It takes a lot to stop rural women!
And the Nanango District Camera Club’s annual portrait workshop went ahead at Ringsfield House.
However, the Junior Motorcycle Speedway club day scheduled for Sunday at Kingaroy Showground was cancelled due to unsafe riding conditions.
And the Nanango Hack and Pony Club gymkhana was also postponed because of the conditions; the event will be rescheduled at a date to be fixed.
The Coolabunia livestock sale scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed, most likely to Tuesday, October 24. The Murgon sale, scheduled for Tuesday, is also expected to be postponed.
