Today the rain stopped and the sun broke through on various odd occasions. The weather system, an intense low pressure region, moved further north dumping substantial rain on the northern coastal regions of the state before moving out to sea.
Now the cleanup begins. For many it will be merged with the cleanups of previous major floods in March and April, and for some it will be a continuation of repair and cleanup work from last years floods.
The local rivers are carrying a huge quantity of debris that has been washed from farms, homes, shops and businesses. Shipping containers, refrigerators (who would have thought that they would float?), all manner of plastic containers (some containing toxic chemicals), even farm equipment and, regrettably, the bodies of drowned livestock, have all been seen moving down the rivers. Some have started washing up on nearby ocean beaches, carried out of the river mouths and moved by tides, winds and currents.
The immediate cause of this disaster, the La Nina system, the counterpart to the better known "El Nino" (both which move warmer water but in opposite directions across the South Pacific between South America, Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (or "Indian Nino"), which does the same thing across the Indian Ocean, are still with us.
La Nina, which is in its third consecutive season now, brings more moisture to our shores which results in more frequent and intense flooding.
The Indian Ocean Dipole, when flowing eastward (called a "negative dipole event"), does the same on the opposite side of the continent but prevailing winds bring its rains across the continent to the eastern shores. We are currently in a strong negative dipole that has so far lasted 5 years - strong negative and positive events normally last about 6 months each but since the dipole was only discovered in 1999 it is probably too early to judge what is normal or abnormal.
A 3rd consecutive year of La Nina and a 5th of a negative Indian Ocean Dipole has resulted in the current situation. As I stated above, both are still with us and are predicted to last well into our Spring (Autumn/Fall in the Northern Hemisphere) so do not put away your water wings just yet.
Many thanks to those who have expressed sympathy and concern.
My thoughts
ADDENDUM: The state government here has finally acknowledged what everyone else knew by announcing that the term "Once in XXX year event" will disappear from their phrasebook. The State Premier (equivalent, more or less, of a State Governor) stated that the term "Once in 100 year flood" is totally meaningless when you are confronted by 3 such event in a single year, and more over a two year period. The phrase has frequently been used by governments as excuses to do little or nothing to mitigate such events.