We're about to set off for another #EmergencyCommsExercise at #SouthbrookQld for the #Toowoomba Endurance Horse Riders' Association Hip Pocket Challenge.

This _was_ to take place in March, however #CycloneAlfred was the final word on that… so it got postponed until now. Southbrook is a little south-west of Toowoomba on the high plains… very open to the wind and quite high in altitude. Consequently, I'm grabbing all the warm gear I can lay my hands on. This morning Toowomba region had a overnight minimum of -0.1°C. Sunday is predicted to get down to 5°C (a little warmer).

It'll also be the first event I try out the checkpoint reporter program I released a couple of weeks ago. I've of course packed clipboards and paper forms, so if things go pear shaped with the computing, we have the paperwork to back it up.

There are four rides taking place. Tomorrow afternoon there's a 20km introductory ride: I understand WICEN's not involved in that one officially, but we'll probably use it as a trial run of the software.

Sunday morning we have an 80km, 40km and 20km ride to support.

We're off again for this year's first #EmergencyCommsExercise. This event is another #HorseEnduranceRide taking place at #KilkivanQld.

First for the year because #CycloneAlfred saw the cancellation of the event at #SouthbrookQld.

I hear we're using 2m FM simplex for this one. Cross-band operation here we come.

WE HAVE POWER!!!

It was due back at 9pm today, but youngest child at home has just messaged to say the power is back on!

After managing to avoid major effects from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred the rain finally found us overnight. Emptied 230mm out of the rain gauge this morning.

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/weather/flash-flooding-on-sunshine-coast-as-region-cops-325mm-in-hours/news-story/3223ddf439c9cca018c968e3626ec36b

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-10/heavy-rain-flash-flooding-sunshine-coast-hinterland/105031194?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

https://www.sunshinecoastnews.com.au/

Was a bit wet last night....

It ain't over till the manholes rise

If you are interested in where rainfall ends up in south east QLD I have this map that shows how the catchments drain into the Brisbane river. #CycloneAlfred https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=19bn69U4HHqPc6DfHoXRtybUjJqsInq1r&usp=sharing

Has anybody actually /tried/ getting a wisdom tooth out at home?

We're on day 3 of stuck inside and the dentist reckons that one is just never going to show but I think trying is preferable to boredom.

There's no shot the 24 hour x 364 kebab shop is open, right?

The @CARROT weather app has a lot of fun achievements, including cow dodger. You get it for “Find an area with an active tornado or hurricane hazard”. I was waiting to see if being in the cyclone warning area would tick it off but no

#CycloneAlfred

I was woken in the middle of the night by the bed shaking and the sound of crashing.

It was the cats, wrestling on the bed.

No damage here, 40mm of rain so far. No power outage for me, but one close by from what the locals say and @ash's helpful SEQ power outage bot says (the official map is not loading, overloaded I imagine).

Still watching and on alert for the remainder.

Thoughts with everyone, especially those badly affected.

What a difference a good night's sleep makes.

When I went to bed, I was expecting to wake to gale force winds and driving rain.

When I woke, there's no wind, and steady rain.

We'll likely still be cut off with flooding, but that's about it.

The rain has finally arrived here on the south side of Brisbane #TCAlfred #cyclonealfred