Storms lead to airport delays, blackouts and road closures across the region


UPDATE 12:30PM 19/10: 

Weather forecasters predict the Cairns region could face another lightning and thunder show up until 10pm tonight as the region starts to get back to normal after a wild night of storms and rainfall.

The Bureau of Meteorology told TropicNow that there's a high chance of rain today and tomorrow, but the storms will ease from late tonight. 

The Kuranda Range has re-opened after a crash involving a truck and sedan, but motorists are urged to be patient as the back log of traffic clears.

Meanwhile, residents on the Cassowary Coast have been advised to boil their drinking water until further notice as a result of heavy storms overnight. A council spokesman said turbidity in creek systems had exceeding water quality levels.

For information on the boil water notice, contact the council on 1300 763 903 or click here.


 VIDEO: Paronella Park was "pumping" with water after the downfall


EARLIER: It came with a lot of lightning and thunder and dumped 135mm at Cairns Airport, causing delays to some flights, road closures and cutting power to thousands of homes and businesses in TNQ.

The effects of last night's thunderstorms are still being felt throughout the region and the wet weather is expected to continue with the weather bureau forecasting another 20mm to 60mm today and 10mm to 25mm on Friday.

The thunderstorms that caused so much havoc overnight are expected to ease into Friday.

Cairns Airport was closed periodically overnight and this morning because of the storms with the airport's corporate communications manager Helen Laird saying the situation was returning to normal this morning.

"There have been some delays overnight," she said.

"We will keep an eye on the weather and address any other thunderstorm warnings as they occur."<strike></strike>

Aviation rules dictate the "apron" has to be cleared when a thunderstorm is within 5 nautical miles of Cairns Airport and this leads to delays in passengers boarding and disembarking aircraft.

Anyone concerned about impacts on their flight can confirm details with Cairns Airport or are urged to contact their airline.

The storms also left 2,969 homes and businesses in the Mt Sheridan, Bentley Park, Bayview Heights, Edmonton, White Rock, Woree and Kanimbla areas without power.

The power went out at 4.31am on Thursday, according to Ergon Energy and it was still not back on by 9am and crews were still trying to find where the faults were in the electricity network.

Power was also out in the Kuranda region for some of Thursday affecting 1,050 customers and 4,000 people in the Gordonvale area are also without power.

CURRENT CHANGED ROAD CONDITIONS

The Wondecla Creek bridge on Longlands Gap Road, near Herberton, was closed overnight but was reopened by the Department of Transport and Main Roads this morning.

The following road closures and warnings are in place:

  • Bushy Creek Crossing, Mossman Mount Molloy Rd - closed
  • Liverpool Crossing, Mena Creek (Cassowary Coast) - flooding, warning signs in place
  • Little Mulgrave, Gillies Range Road - flooding, warning signs in place
  • Motorists seeking to travel to the Cape areas today are urged to check traffic reports before embarking on travel.

With thunderstorms expected to continue throughout today, drivers are urged to monitor road conditions, drive to the conditions and obey traffic signs, for current road conditions call 13 19 40 or click here.