The residents of Mount Isa have come to expect long periods of dry weather which are typical from autumn until spring. One such dry spell was punctuated this morning by showers and thunderstorms which delivered 11.2mm of rain. The rainfall would have been a welcome sight for a town that has seen only one other rainfall event which produced more than 10mm since the end of the last wet season. That last rainfall event occurred on 1 June, when 15.0mm was recorded.

The thunderstorms this morning can be attributed in part to a surface trough which currently extends across western Queensland. The trough generated enough instability to produce more than 20,000 lightning strikes this morning. The trough will remain over the region today, supporting the chance for further showers and thunderstorms at Mount Isa this morning and into this afternoon. However, the next dry spell is expected to commence from tomorrow.

To track these storms as they evolve, be sure to check out our live RADAR imagery.