Australia Weather News

The weather bureau is warning of a potential lengthy flood event in north Queensland over the coming days. 

A monsoon trough has brought heavy falls to the north-west and Gulf Country, and is intensifying as it drifts south.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Jonathan How said a tropical low and a monsoon trough lingering over the region was bringing heavy rain.

"We did see some pretty broad rainfall totals of between 50 to 150 millimetres, and up to 200 millimetres around the Ingham area overnight," he said.

"We also did see some heavy rain about the Gulf Coast, between 50 to 100 millimetres again with isolated falls above that."

A major flood warning is in place for the Flinders River and moderate flood warnings for the Cloncurry and Western Rivers, while a flood watch has been issued for parts of north-western Queensland and the north tropical coast.

"More broadly across Northern Queensland, we do have a flood watch which extends all the way from Mackay up towards Cairns, that does include Townsville and over towards the Gulf Country and down towards Mt Isa, so a very broad area of the state is covered by flood watch," Mr How said.

He said conditions would intensify across the north-west heading into Monday.

"Today we are expecting six-hourly rainfall totals of up to 100 millimetres, even higher isolated falls, and then for the north-west of the state the rainfall is expected to peak during Monday," he said.

"We could see isolated falls breaching 300 millimetres, even drifting further south into the Channel Country, and we are expecting that rain across the north-west to gradually shift eastwards across the coast.

"So, we can expect back-to-back days of 50 to 150 millimetres and isolated falls well in excess of 200 millimetres from Tuesday, Wednesday, even to Thursday for places like Longreach."

Mr How said people should stay across the warnings.

"Along that tropical coast we are expecting to see the rain really peaking Monday and Tuesday and still not really going away until later parts of the week."

"Very much looking at, at least the next five days, very heavy rain across the north of the state that will likely lead to prolonged flooding for many people.

"The expected rainfall totals will depend on how the low and trough do move, so we are continually updating our forecast as well as our flood expectation … we are reminding people to keep across the latest updates as best they can, whether they're travelling around or remaining in place over the next week or so."

A spokesperson for the State Emergency Service said a team of six additional members would be deployed from Brisbane to Cloncurry on Sunday.

Queensland Police Minister Dan Purdie said emergency services were prepared.

"For over a week, we've been preparing for this particular event. The biggest concern in north-west Queensland is livestock and fodder," he said.

"Locals know what to do, but if you're travelling in that area and if you're not familiar with the conditions on the road, stay across the warnings and if it's flooded, forget it."

State disaster coordinator Christopher Stream said some road closures and community isolation were likely to continue as the rain did.

Deputy Commissioner Stream noted conditions – including below-average temperatures and wind along with the rain – were not dissimilar to 2019 when stock losses were recorded in large numbers.

But he said authorities had worked hard in preparing communities and providing warnings and information to landholders, and livestock were in better condition this year than they had been in 2019.

Queensland's disaster management authorities are also working with federal agencies to ensure they had access to additional sandbags if needed, and could cooperate on fodder drops, Deputy Commissioner Stream said.

Rainfall a 'Christmas gift'

The downpour has been welcomed by central Queensland graziers Emma and Brenton Sewell.

The couple, based near Moranbah, said they had seen "plenty of dry Christmases" and did not mind being cut off for a few days.

"You've just got to make sure you've got plenty of food in the cupboard and just enjoy the rain," Mr Sewell said.

Mr Sewell said their neighbours had "about 200mm" while they had recorded 75mm by Saturday afternoon.

"We welcome as much rain as we can possibly get," Ms Sewell said.

"It's a blessing and a Christmas gift."