The recent (and current) wet spell in Queensland/northern NSW

Last week, south east Queensland was awash and although it has dried out in SE Queensland, the wet weather has retreated inland - causing flooding through central Queensland and into northern NSW - causing the multi-class nationals to move from Narromine to Tocumwal.

The cause of all this rain can best be seen by looking at the enhanced IR satellite images (the animations give the best perspective) for the south west Pacific. There are available at the tropical cyclone warning centre (Hurricanzone.net). The latest image is below:-

The eastern Australian continent is on the left and the monsoon trough (and its associated moisture) can bee seen stretching across the image. The moisture over the east of the continent is being fed into an upper level disturbance over the east of the continent which is sucking it down through central Queensland into NSW and then off the coast.

The animations are at http://www.goes.noaa.gov/sohemi/sohemiloops/shirgmscol.html