Australia Weather News

Residents of the small Far North Queensland town of Einasleigh are being urged to shelter in place amid a flood emergency the mayor has described as "unprecedented".

Heavy rain caused the nearby Copperfield Dam to spill on Tuesday, reportedly flooding several properties in the township.

The Etheridge Shire Council earlier ordered residents around Einasleigh and the Copperfield River to evacuate, but has since upgraded its warning.

Mayor Barry Hughes said authorities had hoped to evacuate people by helicopter to nearby Georgetown, but they would have to remain on high ground overnight.

"That aircraft has not been able to lift off due to inclement weather conditions," he said.

"We will be at first light in the morning hopefully getting that aircraft off the ground. 

"We do have frail and elderly people in the community of Einasleigh as well as very young people that have just moved to town."

The Gregory Developmental Road between Einasleigh and Gulf Developmental Road has been closed due to the flooding, according to QLDTraffic.

Heavy rain also closed the Gilbert River Bridge between Croydon and Georgetown.

Police said heavy rain had led to spilling of the Copperfield Dam, creating "very dangerous" conditions. 

"It's over-topping the spillway over 6 metres, which is a massive amount of water," Cr Hughes said.

"We recorded rainfall of 250 millimetres in the catchment of the Copperfield River system overnight, which is contributing to the current height and the inflow of water that's coming over that spillway."

He said it was unknown when the flood would peak.

"We're sitting in close proximity to the low that's embedded in the monsoon trough and, with the ongoing heavy downpours that we're experiencing right across the catchment of the Gilbert, the Robertson, Copperfield and Einasleigh river systems, we're at the mercy of Mother Nature as we speak," he said.

Community evacuates

Chelsea Mosch at Jardine Station, north of Einasliegh, said she had never seen the water rise so quickly at the station before.

"It's rising pretty quickly. I think a metre every hour," Ms Mosch said.

"It's pretty crazy, it's all just come at once, but it's like a big ocean."

Ms Mosch said she was packing up to leave for higher ground, but she was hoping the water would not affect the house.

"It's pretty scary … it hasn't stopped raining all day, all night," she said.

Publican Tayla Wellby took over ownership of the Einasleigh Hotel on Friday, but has now evacuated her young family to higher ground.

She said the Copperfield River rose quickly and flooded the pub.

"It's a little bit scary to be honest. The water is very high. A lot of people here, their houses are under," she said.

"It's running through the pub. We've been watching chairs and tables and barbecues float away."

Ms Wellby and husband Braydon, along with three children under four, had relocated 300 kilometres from Townsville to their new home in recent weeks.

She said the former publican of 26 years told her he had never seen the river so high.

At least six homes had flooded, to Ms Wellby's knowledge

With no flood evacuation centre in the town, she will be among the residents sheltering in place overnight awaiting evacuation by helicopter to Georgetown.

"I've never been through anything like this to this extent. I do feel quite nervous," she said.

"I think myself and the kids are going to get on the helicopter to Georgetown just to keep us safe."

Roads cut

Meanwhile heavy rain is causing flooding on roads throughout north Queensland, with the Bruce Highway cut north of Ingham at Seymour River.

The highway section, about 130 kilometres north of Townsville, was cut early on Tuesday and drivers are being told to expect lengthy delays.

A moderate flood warning has been issued for the Herbert River and communities in the Lower Herbert area are expected to soon be isolated.

Mayor Ramon Jayo said the heavy rain was likely to force multiple road closures in the area by Tuesday evening.

"Any residents of the Lower Herbert should be considering their travel plans right now," he said.

Communities throughout the Hinchinbrook Shire, including Ingham, suffered devastating flooding in early 2025 but Cr Jayo said no major flooding was expected during this event.

"We are expecting a little more rain but nothing substantial that would indicate we will have any major flooding to contend with," he said.

"But those things can change in a heartbeat."