Wet Wednesday

IT was like someone turned on an overhead tap and could not turn it off.

A massive downpour on February 12 took the hinterland by surprise
and caused localised flash flooding around Nambour, Palmwoods, Chevallum and surrounds.

Vehicles parked in the Short Street carpark at Nambour were swamped by the murky brown waters of Petrie Creek, which rose rapidly while shoppers and workers went about their business.

The Bureau of Meteorology recorded 200.8mm at Nambour, although the highest fall of 231.8mm was at the Sunshine Coast Airport.

Falls were more modest around Kenilworth and Moy Pocket, where 64.2mm and 39mm fell respectively.

Anecdotally, 43mm fell in one location in an hour but further rainfall figures for the area are difficult to obtain from the BoM, which relies on a dwindling band of volunteers to measure and record rainfall.