‘It’s already flooded’: BOM cops it over Far North flood predictions

The BoM is under fire after Queensland flood victims said they received emergency alerts while on the roofs of their already flooded homes.

The Bureau of Meteorology has come under fire for failing to predict the severity of torrential rain that caused devastating floods in Far North Queensland.

Thousands of people in coastal suburbs were forced onto roofs and into trees after record-breaking rainfall in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper on Sunday.

Many, including those who spoke to news.com.au, said there was little to no warning of the devastating flooding.

Residents at Holloways Beach, a coastal community just north of Cairns which was hit hard by the floods, are among those asking questions of the bureau.

Holloways Beach was hit hard by flooding on Sunday. on Picture: Peter Carruthers

On Monday, Holloways Beach resident Kaliff Villaflor, amid a salvage operation of his own home, said he was surprised when “waist high” water inundated his property.

“It came within half an hour and just flash-flooded the whole place,” he told news.com.au..

Hundreds have needed rescuing from Holloways Beach and nearby Machans Beach, Yorkeys Knob, since the Sunday afternoon flood event.

According to Mr Villaflor, the only road in and out was “washed into the ocean”.

Fellow Holloways Beach resident Wayne Featonby told the Cairns Post the emergency warning, which was issued at 7.56pm on Sunday night, was too late.

“But then there was no warning to get out of flood-prone areas or anything, like it’s already flooded,” he said.

The Holloways Beach family home of Kaliff Villaflor was gutted. Picture: Supplied

He claims floodwaters caught him and his neighbours by surprise on Monday afternoon. Picture: Supplied

The Courier Mail reported the Cairns Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) sent an emergency alert when affected residents were already sitting on the roofs of their homes as water inundated them.

Cairns Mayor Terry James and leader of the LDMG said its advice, including warnings, was on the guidance from the Bureau of Meteorology.

“The Bureau had forecasted the cyclone to move across Cape York and into The Gulf, but instead it just sat right above us …” he said on Monday.

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr, whose council scored a direct hit from Jasper, told The Australian the Bureau had a lack of local staff.

“If this is so record-breaking, how did no one know this was going to happen? We need to have forecasts closer to what is going on,” he lamented.

Holloways Beach and Machans Beach were among the worst-affected areas where hundreds of people were rescued.

Many locals were surprised and claimed that warnings to leave were ‘too little, too late’. Picture: Supplied

Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie said the finger-pointing from frustrated flood victims was unsurprising given the accounts from the ground.

“People were so surprised with the difference between the Bureau’s forecasts and the actual level of rainfall they’ve had,” she told the Today show on Tuesday morning.

In an emergency briefing on Monday afternoon, newly sworn-in Queensland Premier Steven Miles defended the BoM, stating the devastating rainfall “couldn’t be predicted”.

“I think the Bureau gave all the notice and warning they could based on the information that was available to them,” he said.

“It couldn’t be predicted based on their observations and systems just how much rain would fall. They do the best that they can.”

Premier of Queensland Steven Miles defended the BOM, stating that the devastating rainfall ‘couldn’t be predicted’. Picture, John Gass

Mr Miles, who on Monday was labelled a “climate champion” by former US Vice President Al Gore, added that what the Cairns region experienced was unprecedented.

He hinted at the need to discuss climate change and its links to such catastrophic Australian weather events.

“It was anticipated that the rainfall would track the cyclone across The Cape – that’s not what we’ve seen,” he said.

“We’ve seen the rainfall intensely concentrated in Cairns.

“There’s a lot about this weather event that is unusual and has never been seen before.

“There’ll probably be at some point in the future where we can talk about what’s driving those kinds of changes in weather patterns.”

The BoM has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as ‘It’s already flooded’: BOM cops it over Far North flood predictions