As BOM predicts severe weather and flash flooding for Cairns, SES said be sandbag ready now

Severe weather is predicted to move across the Far North with Cairns predicted to get up to 60mm and more flash flooding, while the SES advise being prepared with sandbags.

Cairns could be in store for flash flooding on Wednesday, with heavy falls predicted over catchments already sodden from the wet season.

On Monday, a downpour dropped 35mm in 35 minutes over Cairns.

The city has received 179mm for the first 17 days of 2023.

Bureau forecaster Danny Johnson said the weather for Wednesday will include possible storms and heavy showers.

“We will potentially see some severe weather move in to Cairns,” he said.

“We have had some rain, 35mm in the 24 hours but that came in a 35 to 40 minute deluge and we have more showers heading into the region on Tuesday.

“Potentially some severe weather including 30 to 60mm on Wednesday which could cause some flash flooding.”

Mr Johnson said up on the Tablelands the ground was extremely saturated,

“Up in the Tablelands the catchments are all filling up,” he said.

“So any thunderstorm could cause more flash flooding and we want everyone to take care.”

Heavy rain falling onto already saturated ground is predicted to cause more flash flooding across the Cairns region. FILE PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

On Wednesday, Cairns could get thunderstorms dumping up to 40mm, while Atherton, Cooktown, Innisfail, Mareeba and Port Douglas are forecast for showers and possible storms.

State Emergency Service Far North Regional Director Wayne Coutts said members had 10 jobs across the region on Monday night.

When Tropical Cyclone Owen loomed large over the Far North, with Cairns to face heavy rain Edmonton SES volunteers Lotus James, Kylie Maynard-Duff and John Lui filled sandbags to respond to calls from the southern Cairns region. FILE PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“We were called out to jobs from Innisfail up to the Daintree and across the Tablelands from the storm,” he said.

“Mostly people were after sandbags to deal with overflowing drains and run off from a neighbours property,” he said.

“SES advises people that if they see the level of water coming close to damaging their property, take action now and get some sandbags to be ready for when it happens again and they can use them at a moment’s notice.”

Originally published as As BOM predicts severe weather and flash flooding for Cairns, SES said be sandbag ready now