There was no destructive cyclone, yet a set of unfavourable ingredients caused a fairly common weather system to wreak havoc in northern Queensland this week. So what happened to make it so severe? And should we be more heightened to the risks of tropical lows?

Thousands of residents are beginning to return home to assess damage to their homes and businesses.

Flood waters are rising in the Australian state of Queensland after heavy rainfall. The area between Townsville and Cairns in the north-east is particularly badly affected - a region that is also very popular with tourists.

Almost 1.5 metres of rain fell on the town of Cardwell in the first five days of Ebruary, causing flooding to 70 homes.

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