This time it’s South Australia.

From the ABC: Outback storms leave an inland sea

Nearly all outback roads are closed across South Australia because of the widespread drenching in recent days.

Thunderstorms have affected a wide area as ex-Tropical Cyclone Yasi moves across inland regions.

Many cattle stations including Anna Creek are accessible only by helicopter.
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The landscape is sodden across a wide area of South Australia. Yongala received 128 millimetres of rain in 24 hours, beating a record set 121 years ago.

There are 25.4 millimeters in an inch, and the Outback is not known as a garden paradise.

The ABC reports on the continuing problem of bush fires around Perth in West Australia, as a result of low humidity and high winds, Raging bushfire destroys 35 homes

Residents in several West Australian areas are facing a sleepless night as blazes continue to burn out of control.

Around 400 firefighters have been battling a number of blazes over the past 24 hours.

A blaze burning in the Roleystone and Kelmscott areas, south-east of Perth, has already destroyed 35 homes.

Authorities say that figure could reach 60, with winds of up to 70 kilometres an hour making it near impossible to bring the huge fire under control.
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To the north-east of the city in Red Hill and Brigadoon, an emergency warning is in place for a blaze that has been burning since Saturday night.
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A third fire in Coorow, north-east of Perth, has burnt nearly 5,000 hectares and is still not contained.

Fire officials suspect that the winds are blowing debris against the high voltage electrical lines and sparking the fires. Once a fire is started the winds are causing spot fires by blowing burning embers around, jumping roads and other forms of firebreak. The winds are also preventing the air tankers from flying and providing assistance.

These are the arrival positions at Braeburn, and all but the last five are back on the trail. While Johannes Rygh is running near the front, I’m a bit concerned that the rookie musher had to leave two dogs behind. Hugh left first, but Sebastian is less than an hour behind with Wade Marrs, Brent Sass, Hans, and Kelly Griffin making up rest of the pre-4AM group.

1 Hugh Neff (8)
2 Kelley Griffin (1)
3 Johannes Rygh (6)^R
4 Dan Kaduce (10)
5 Hans Gatt (13)
6 Wade Marrs (15)^I
7 Sebastian Schnuelle (11)
8 Michelle Phillips (4)
9 Ken Anderson (18)
10 Brent Sass (22)
11 Dallas Seavey (3)^I
12 Mike Ellis (5)
13 Joshua Cadzow (16)
14 Allen Moore (24)^I
15 Jodi Bailey (17)^R
16 Denis Tremblay (2)^R
17 Tamara Rose (12)^I
18 Clint Warnke (25)^I
19 Jerry Joinson (21)^R
20 David Dalton (23)
21 Didier Moggia (7)
22 Hank DeBruin (19)^I
23 Allen Dennis (20)
24 Christine Roalofs (9)^R
25 Kyla Durham (14)^R

Updates below the fold
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