Unprecedented floods in Australia have affected more than 200 000 people, submerged or disrupted life across an area the size of France and Germany combined, according to the premier of Queensland state.
Floodwaters were fed by heavy rain over the Christmas period falling over areas already saturated by persistent above-average rainfall during the preceding months. The most severe impacts were in central Queensland and in the state’s southern inland regions, according to the Bureau of Meteorology of Australia, which said the La Niña event had contributed to Australia's third wettest year on record in 2010. http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/media_releases/climate/change/20110105.shtm
The Bureau of Meteorology has declared further flood warnings for seven river systems in Queensland, with monsoon rains forecast for the state's tropical north and thunderstorms for the southeast.
The website page http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings/index.shtmlautomatically refreshes every 2 minutes. A summary for Queensland with flood (by rivers) and other extreme weather warnings is available at: http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings/
Flood forecasting and warning services are provided in cooperation with other government agencies coordinated through Flood Warning Consultative Committees and established cooperative working arrangements in each State/Territory. http://reg.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings/index.shtml
