Dismal weather soaks the region

25th July 2008

Print
larger | smaller

IF you're feeling damp and a little miserable, it's because this month has turned out to be wetter than average in fact the last time it rained this much in July was back in the 1980s.

Most of Gympie's residents stayed indoors yesterday to escape the dismal weather with widespread rains across the region fetching up to 75mm in some areas.

Thick cloud has covered southeast Queensland as an upper trough passed over the state, causing the widespread rain with heaviest falls on the coast.

Weather forecaster David Grant said Gympie received its fair share of rain with 40mm in the 24 hours up to 9am yesterday topping the monthly rainfall figures to 104.2mm.

He said the average rainfall for Gympie in July was 52.9mm and yesterday the readings for the month so far was double that at. Last time Gympie broke the monthly rainfall average was in 2006 with just 59mm.

It will take a lot more rain to match the 225mm that pelted down on Gympie in July 1988, and with isolated showers expected to clear later today, the weekend is looking dry and sunny. Fine but cool weather is expected to finish out the month.

Skies were expected to clear in the west and north as the trough moves off-shore today with moderate to fresh south to southeast winds remaining gusty at times near the coast.

The weather has kept the big fish away from keen anglers at the rainbow Beach Fishing Classic with the leaders' board remaining the same yesterday.

Wednesday night's weigh-in was reduced to the brave who weathered the elements and although 150 fish were weighed in none broke any records.

Yesterday all offshore fishing had been called by the competition officials as "closed" with the only Reef fish accepted at weigh-in to be those caught in-shore or from off the beach.

Ladies Day had to be brought indoors at the Sport and Rec Club with the girls taking over the big function room and main deck area.

Organiser Linda Adams said everybody was hoping the weather forecast would favour the comp and give them nice clear weather for the last few days of the event.

A few more showers are expected today with windy weather to bring a chill and a top temperature of 18 degrees.