Parts of Australia have been roasted by high heat, while farmers in another state have been shut off by floodwaters and bursting river banks.
A brief heatwave that moved through rural Queensland on Monday caused temperatures to soar to a scorching 40C at Doomadgee and Julia Creek and 35C at Camooweal.
Further south, the weather has been much colder, and in northwest New South Wales, floodwaters have inundated rural villages, necessitating a number of rescue operations by emergency services.
According to forecaster Steven Hadley, northwest Queensland would have the highest temperatures, with the mercury rising 5 to 6 degrees Celsius over the monthly normal.
Severe thunderstorms are predicted for the Charters Towers, Central Highlands, Rockhampton, and Bundaberg regions. A slow-moving trough will ease the conditions.
Following the Namoi River’s breach of its banks, farmers in northwest New South Wales have been advised to get ready to be cut off by rising waters.
After the river peaked early on Sunday, the Bureau of Meteorology issued flood warnings for the river, including significant flooding at Wee Waa and Gunnedah.
Five low-lying homes in Gunnedah were reportedly inundated, but a levee was anticipated to keep water out of the town of Wee Waa, according to State Emergency Service spokesperson David Rankine.
Due to the condition of the wet, unpaved roads in the Wee Waa region, farmers have been advised to shift their cattle and equipment to higher land because they risk being cut off.
Emergency services are available to provide supplies to isolated rural families.
On the weekend, he claimed that there were roughly 20 rescues in the New England area, most of which involved persons who had driven through floodwaters.
People not being responsible behind the wheel was “a little frustrating,” Mr. Rankine said to ABC News on Monday.
“That takes a lot of the work off of our volunteers to assist the community members when we’re fishing individuals out of their automobiles,” the organization said.
A portion of the central west has also flooded, with Wellington, Dubbo, and Narromine experiencing the Macquarie-Wambuul River’s peak levels.
On Friday afternoon, according to Mr. Rankine, a brief evacuation order was in effect for the Dubbo Caravan Park.
Warren is anticipated to have significant flooding on Monday, but a levee should stop the town from flooding.
Burrendong Dam, located close to Wellington, is currently at 133% after falling to less than 4% during the worst of the drought.
With all this rain, these villages have undergone an amazing shift, according to Mr. Rankine.
The majority of farmers will tell you that mud is cash. We are hoping that the rain will stop in the weeks leading up to harvest in October, November, and December.