YARDS OF RAIN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 32, 23 May 1947, Page 8

YARDS OF RAIN

AUSTRALIAN RAINFALL In some places rain is too generous at times and in the following article a Sydney Morning Herald correspondent tells of an area where they measure their rain by the yard.

When the little red flag is run up the mast, at the post office, in the North Queensland township of Babinda, the stranger to the district immediately becomes curious, he wrote.

Any apprehension he may feel on learning that this is the method adopted to warn the public that a cyclone is on the way, and has been hoisted on advice received from the Government meteorological station on Willis Island, near Cooktown, is allayed somewhat by the fact that the townsfolk'do not appear unduly perturbed. They go about their work and play as usual; perhaps adding such a phrase as: “Looks as they we’re in for a blow,” when bidding the time of day, but that is all. There is no sign of fear or panic; for the people of North Queensland expect bad weather from December to May. Big Blow in 1918

Nevertheless at Babinda and Innisfail there are some residents who each year pack their valuables and a change of clothing in readiness for an emergency. These are the folk who vividly remember the big blow of 1918, when both these towns were flattened and continuous rain fell for two weeks after the cyclone had abated.

Although several seasons may pass without even a small cyclone visiting Babinda, the residents can be certain that they will receive between four and five yards of rain each year. The town, situated at the foot of Mount Bartle Frere, Queensland’s highest peak, vies with Innisfail and Tully as Australia’s wettest spot. The average annual rainfall for 33 years from 1913 to 1945, was 170.81 inches. This is a daily average of .47 of an inch. In 1921 273 inches, or nearly eight yards of rain, were recorded. Nearly 25 Inches In Day

The highest rainfall recorded since 1913 was for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. on March 2, 1935; 24.94 inches were recorded—2l inches between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. In the next 24 hours 17.78 inches fell, and in the next 5.94 inches, making 49.66 inches in approximately 60 hours actual raining time. The people of Babindado not take all this rain too much to heart They are used to it, and know that it makes their district one of the country’s finest sugar producing areas.

They read of the dusty Mallee and the drought stricken West; then they look out over the perpetual green of the cane fields, and the foliage of the mountains and are thankful.