Overnight rainfall hits record heights in Geraldton and Morawa while roads remain flooded around the city

Geraldton recorded its wettest day in more than seven years when a downpour of more than 60mm fell overnight on Monday. The City of Greater Geraldton received a drenching, with the rainfall leading to flooded roads and record totals in some areas. Road signs are signalling to slow down to 40km/h in certain flood-prone areas including Edward Road in Meru and Augustus Street in Beachlands. Since opening its new station, the Geraldton Airport saw its wettest day since March 2015 with a recorded 61.6mm of rain overnight in the 24 hours until 9am Tuesday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Duty forecaster Jessica Lingard said the old Geraldton Airport site had a rainfall history going back to 1941. “The highest rainfall was 109.2mm in June 13, 1945, and for the month of August it was 59.0mm on August 19, 1979,” she said. Ms Lingard said the significant rainfall was due to a cloud band developing yesterday afternoon fed by tropical moisture. “There were a few sites around the area with daily records overnight,” she said. Morawa Airport had its highest daily rainfall for August totalling 44.2mm. Ms Lingard said other notable rainfall totals in the Mid West included 72.8mm in Coolangatta and 70mm in Wicka.