Many cattle stations in Northern WA are celebrating a wet start to 2018 following ex-Tropical Cyclone Joyce.
While some pastoralists were disappointed after missing out on rain from ex-Tropical Cyclone Hilda last fortnight, Joyce did not disappoint bringing high rainfall totals across parts of the Kimberley, Inland Pilbara and Southern Gascoyne.
Since ex-Tropical Cyclone Joyce crossed the Kimberley coast last Thursday morning, there have been some huge rainfall totals including 257mm at Country Downs, 200mm at Nita Downs and West Roebuck 157mm.
The category one cyclone also dumped heavy rain on Mandora Station, south of Broome, which received two thirds of its annual rainfall by Sunday morning.
Mandora Station manager Caitlin U'Ren said the yearly average rainfall for Mandora Station was 350 millimetres, but it received more than 200mm in just 24 hours as the system passed off the coast.
"It's bloody good. It's just a really good start to the season," she said.
Mandora Station manager Ben Mills said they had some very happy cattle, after Mandora celebrated their first big rainfall event since last April.
"We were hoping for 100mm, so we got a lot more than we bargained for," he said.
"Everything we get on top of this will see us head towards a really great season."
Positive season ahead
Anna Plains station owner David Stoate said they were excited to receive their second big rain event since ex-Tropical Cyclone Hilda, with their total rainfall up to 174mm.
Although there was a bit of damage around the station, Mr Stoate said he was happy to see not too much wind hit Anna Plains.
"We got a little bit more than I ordered but we're very happy to take it," he said.
"There's a little bit of water lying around the homestead, but given that we were pretty dry in late December I don't think flooding will be much of an issue.
"There'll be a lot more benefits from costs out of it, that's for sure."
Mr Stoate said they had almost reached two-thirds of their annual rainfall, so it was looking like a very positive season ahead.
"Even if we don't have any more rain, we've got a wet season we will be able to work with," he said.
Pilbara gets its share
Over the weekend it was the Pilbara's turn to enjoy some heavy rains, with another 196 millimetres at Bilanoo Pool south west of Karratha on Saturday, while there was minor flooding recorded in waterways east of Marble Bar at Ripon Hills.
Since 9am Saturday Warrawagine Station has received 161mm, Hillside Station 90mm, Upper North Pole in the Shaw River district has had 121mm, 66m for Pardoo Station and 49mm for Indee Station.
Pastoralist Annabelle Coppin said it was a huge relief to receive more than 140mm on Yarrie Station, north East of Marble Bar.
"It's fantastic, we couldn't ask for better really," she said.
"I hope it happens for other people in the Pilbara too, I know everyone didn't get the rain that we go but it's still early days.
"When you get that decent rain you know that you're going to start getting set up for the year, so the pressure is off a bit which is fantastic."
Ms Coppin said it was heartening to see the De Grey River flowing, with flood plains up around the station providing a rare opportunity to canoe across the paddocks.
"There's a bit of a floodplain to the north of the house that comes up when we have a lot of rain," she said.
"We only have a small window to get out there, it's always a bit of a novelty so we made the most of it."
Gascoyne River flowing again
The remnants of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Joyce brought heavy rainfall to parts of the dry Gascoyne region.
Widespread falls of 35 to 80mm have already been recorded in the central and southern Gascoyne, and the Central West since 9am Sunday, with Dalgety Downs Airstrip recording 140mm, Murgoo 108 mm, Mount Narryer 83 mm, Mullewa 70.6mm and Binnu 61mm.
Yinnetharra Station, south west of Mt Augustus, has had a dry run the last few years but after receiving 60mm over the weekend the dry spell appears to be over.
Pastoralist David Smith said the sight of the flooded plains from his plane on yesterday morning had been a welcome sight.
"So all the rivers around this area are running quite good streams."
Mr Smith said with only 237mm of rain at Yinnetharra in the past two years, this recent batch of rain had completely turned their season around.
"This rain was the difference between making a go of it or not making a go of it the way it was looking, we lost quite a few cattle in one of the dams that went dry and a lot of the wells are starting to dry back.
"This will pick all those up pretty well, we went over the dam and that's overflowing at the present time.
"We still definitely need a follow up, in a couple of weeks would be very nice."
Mr Smith said not all had been so lucky catching the rain, with his western neighbour only recording 8mm.
However, he said the rainfall had been widespread enough to see the Gascoyne River flood again for the first time since 2015.
"The river got to 4.25m, when I last looked at it it was 3.7m and all these other rivers are coming into it as well down further, so there's still a lot of water coming down," he said.
Fruit and vegetable growers in Carnarvon are hoping more rainfall across the region will result in the Gascoyne River flowing into town by the end of the week.
To keep up to date with flood warnings please refer to the BOM warnings page.
Carnarvon-Mullewa Road has been closed and Geraldton Mt Magnet Road is open to high clearance four wheel drives only in both directions from Mullewa to Yalgoo.
Main Roads said drivers who ignore 'road closed' signs risk being prosecuted and could be liable to pay for any damage their vehicle causes to the road.
The warning follows several incidents on the weekend where drivers ignored closed sections of Great Northern Highway and were washed off the flooded Logue River Bridge.
Road information is available by calling Main Roads WA on 138 138 or visiting www.mainroads.wa.gov.au.
