Maleny Weather

Torrential rain on 21/22 February 1992 measuring 660mm (26 inches) caused flooding to the Mary River, sweeping away the 60 year old timber bridge at Kenilworth. A new bridge was built 8.6 metres higher and opened the following year.

In February 1999 the month’s total rainfall figure was 2¾ times the average, with much of it falling within a short space of time. The torrential downpour swept through the Range overflowed creeks and lapped the Maleny Library boardwalk and contributed in no small way to the flooding of Gympie and Maryborough. Ex-TC “Rona” and ex-TC “, as rain depressions were mainly responsible for Maleny’s weather pattern

Monday was hot and muggy with a northerly moist air stream raising afternoon temperature to over 31°C, and overnight temperatures to four degrees above the norm.

A southeast change came through on Tuesday with a thunderstorm at 2.00pm clearing the stifling air with torrential rain. In fact, we had 42 mm in 45 minutes. The greatest rate of fall was 130mm per hour, enough to trigger off the MWS flash flood warning alarm system.  24 hour rain to 9.00am Wednesday was 139.2mm, bringing the total rainfall to date this month to 481.2, representing 151mm over and above the 117 year average for Maleny. Creeks are again in full spate and local dams are filled to capacity.

The southerly airflow continued over the next few days bringing stream showers on to the Blackall Ranges and a return to normal temperatures