Flood warnings as rain threatens already soaked areas
Significant rainfall continues to impact Queensland as a slow-moving system is expected to move south and impact more populated areas.
Flooding is occurring across numerous rivers after record rainfall lashed regions of an already sodden state, cutting off roads and communities.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a major flood warning for the Haughton River on Queensland’s North Tropical Coast.
Other flood warnings are current for the Paroo, Bulloo, Cooper, Barcoo, Thomson, Western, Diamantina and Georgina rivers.
Several rivers across western and central Queensland are also experiencing minor to moderate flooding.
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The small town of Giru, south of Townsville, has experienced significant rainfall in the 24 hours to Thursday, causing major flooding. Further rain has been forecast across the area in the coming days, that could cause the Haughton River to rise higher.
The Haughton was 2.63 metres above the major flood level and rising. It could reach around 2.80m on Thursday morning, the bureau said.
It is expected to remain above the major flood level of 2.50m with further rises possible.
“Since 9am yesterday morning, there has been a continued focus of rain along the North Tropical Coast, with up to 120mm for a few locations,” meteorologist Helen Reid said on Thursday.
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“This adds to the widespread 200mm to 400mm across western and southwestern Queensland over the last few days, with widespread 100mm to 200mm to come.”
The weather bureau is forecasting similar totals across central and southern parts of the state on Thursday, with a severe weather warning issued for the Maranoa and Warrego districts.
In far western Queensland, the Quilpie community is among a number of regions threatened by floodwaters.
“We’re working closely with the state (government) to look at if there’s a need to fly in food supplies,” Quilpie Council CEO Justin Hancock said.
“It’s too early to tell how long we’re going to be cut off for to make the call.
“Once the current threats of flooding reduces we have to turn our attention to the recovery efforts, particularly those in our agricultural sector that’ll be significantly impacted.”
The slow-moving low-pressure system impacting Queensland is expected to move southeast towards the weekend and bring widespread rain to the region and parts of northern and eastern NSW.
The heaviest totals are forecast on Friday and Saturday, which could cause flash and riverine flooding across already wet catchments.
Sandbagging sites began reopening around Brisbane as the southeast braces again after recovering from ex-tropical cyclone Alfred.
