Half of Australia is on alert due to an intense rainfall system that will dump the equivalent of one year of precipitation in just a few days. Desert areas in the interior could receive up to 400 mm, an amount that usually accumulates over several years. Communities are already isolated, and damage to roads and infrastructure is reported, with rivers overflowing.
Climate modeling and early warnings in the face of the new normal ⚠️
These events test weather forecasting and crisis management systems. Supercomputers running climate models, such as the Australian ACCESS, process data from satellites and stations to refine forecasts. Technology allows issuing early warnings to mobiles, but the scale of these phenomena challenges evacuation protocols and the resilience of infrastructure designed for past rainfall patterns.
The desert turns into a spa: welcome to the aquatic Outback 🦘
Those seeking the authentic Australian desert experience are in for a surprise. Now the plan includes boat safaris through the new interior marshes, fishing in what was a dirt road, and the possibility of spotting kangaroos swimming. Caution: swimming camel signs are the new unofficial tourist attraction. At least dust is not a problem these days.