Australia Braces for Heavy Rain, Floods

0:00It's March 13th, here's your Sydney news in two minutes. Australia is set for another wave of heavy tropical rain through the heartland in the coming days. Outback towns are preparing for floods, but Southern farmers see it as vital drought relief. March is shaping up as one of the wettest on record, with rivers and lakes reaching some of the highest levels this century after recent downpours. Toronto Rain has already hit Queensland and the Northern Territory Top End, and more is coming. Models predict 50 to 100mm over the next 48 hours in the western Northern Territory and nearby western Australia, with isolated spots up to 200mm. For Arab Northern South Australia, that's a big chunk of their yearly average of 150 to 200mm. Communities are on alert with flood watches for over two dozen inland areas. Many roads are already closed from prior flooding, and more rain could isolate homesteads for days. Saturated ground means water will run off quickly into creeks and rivers, causing rapid rises and widespread ponding.

1:04This weekend stays dry in the southeast states with normal temperatures, but tropical moisture pushes south by Monday. It will team up with a trough for patchy rain across farm areas in South Australia, Victoria, and Southern New South Wales, with one to ten. Millimeters generally, and up to 20mm in spots. Lake air is spilling fast. Now at 1.9 meters deep and rising toward possible century highs. Still, long range forecasts point to below average rain through autumn due to El Nino risks, making every drop count before drier months ahead. We'd like to thank our sponsor for making this episode possible. No earbuds, no headbands, no awkward sleeping positions, just a pillow that plays your sound. S-O-L-L-I, solelypillow.com