- More heavy rain is still forecast on Tuesday for southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales, as well as the south coast of New South Wales, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
- As a low pressure area intensifies and moves south to the Tasman Sea, heavy rains are also expected in Tasmania, where up to 8 inches is forecast, along with strong winds.
The big picture: Australia is ground zero for emerging impacts of climate change, from heat waves and wildfires and flooding. Scientific studies have established clear ties between increasingly common and heavy rainfall events and a warming ocean and atmosphere.
- As temperatures increase, the amount of moisture the air can hold also climbs.
What they're saying: “For many communities dealing with floods right now, this is the latest in a line of climate change-exacerbated extreme weather events they have faced, including drought, the Black Summer bushfires, and scorching heatwaves,” said Climate Council spokesman and climate scientist Will Steffen.
The bottom line: The government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison has resisted citing climate change as one of the causes of this disaster.
