Mount Isa Breaks 96-Year Rain Record, Ending Water Worries

Residents of Mount Isa are literally dancing in the rain after their outback town broke a 96-year-old rainfall record this month. The mining city in northwest Queensland has received 318.6 millimeters of rain throughout February, surpassing the 1930 record of 282mm.

The transformation has been remarkable. Red dust has turned to flowing mud, dry riverbeds now rush with water, and the town's critical water supply at Lake Moondarra has overflowed for the first time since 2011.

For a town that typically swelters through February with temperatures in the mid-40s Celsius, the cool, rainy days have been a gift. Rain has fallen on 17 of the month's 24 days, including 12 consecutive days of steady showers.

Mayor Peta MacRae, a 30-year resident, says the sight is magnificent. "I'm looking at the beautiful, full river with the green riverbanks," she laughed, suggesting they rebrand as the "Tropical North West."

The water relief runs deeper than just escaping the heat. Both Lake Moondarra and Lake Julius now sit at 100 percent capacity, meaning residents won't face water restrictions this year.

"If that doesn't start off with a good amount in it, then council needs to look at water restrictions as we get drier progressing through the year," MacRae explained. Now families can plant gardens knowing they'll have water to keep them alive through the dry months ahead.

The Ripple Effect

Mount Isa was spared from the flooding that devastated other parts of northwest Queensland since December. Instead, the town received water exactly where it was needed, filling lakes and rivers without causing substantial flooding damage.

The cooler weather has brought the community outdoors to witness waterfalls and rushing rivers rarely seen in this arid landscape. What's normally the most brutal month of the year has become a celebration of nature's abundance.

Senior meteorologist Christie Johnson says more storms are possible before February ends, meaning the record could climb even higher. The rain comes from a low-pressure system sitting over southeastern Northern Territory.

The "oasis of the outback" has truly lived up to its name this month, proving that even in Australia's driest regions, nature can still surprise with abundance.