Thunderstorm dumps 148mm at Alligator Creek, 130mm Annandale

Heavy but short-lived rain blanketed the region overnight, resulting in 130mm at Annandale and a sharp rise in the Alligator Creek water level. See what else the BOM’s rain gauges recorded.

Alligator Creek, 7.20am, April 4, 2025. Credit: Jordan Merritt

After an intense thunderstorm on Friday morning that dumped 148mm over Alligator Creek, the BOM aren’t ruling out a repeat this weekend.

The forecast for Townsville on Saturday contains a chance for thunderstorms and a 70 per cent chance of rain.

Sunday is slightly better with no thunderstorms predicted but a “high chance of showers” and a 70 per cent chance of rain.

On Monday we might see some showers in the morning and afternoon.

All this should lead us into a decidedly drier and milder week, but the risk of showers will continue to linger for the foreseeable future.

The thunderstorm's rain was heavily concentrated over southern Townsville. April 4, 2025

Bohle River warnings

A minor flood warning for the Bohle River was issued on Friday morning.

BOM expects the Bohle River to peak late Friday afternoon, possibly resulting in some minor flooding at Mt Bohle.

More rainfall on the weekend may cause further rises.

The Ross River is also being monitored closely.

Drone footage over Alligator Creek, 7am, April 4, 2025

Friday thunderstorm

Heavy but short-lived rain blanketed the region in the small hours of Friday morning, resulting in 130mm at Annandale and a sharp rise in the Alligator Creek water level.

While some areas got a lot of water, several suburbs missed out on the excitement - according to the BOM measurements Bluewater only got 3mm and Pallarenda recorded 4mm.

Sitting at the top end of the scale was Kirwan (63mm), Aitkenvale (100mm), Annandale (130mm) and Alligator Ck (148mm).

Townsville Bulletin reader Jenny Stirling recorded 135mm in Wulguru, Leanne Seaton saw 110mm in Annandale and Michelle Evans captured 134mm in Cordingley Rd, Alligator Creek.

Alligator Creek jumped above the minor flood level on Friday morning and reached 5.63m as of 6am but rapidly dropped to 4.6m by 9am.

A minor flood alert has been issued for the Ross River and Bohle River, but the Ross River alert was cancelled.

The thunderstorm activity and rainfall did not extend far - Ayr recorded just 1.2mm, and Ingham also recorded 1.2mm.

Originally published as Thunderstorm dumps 148mm at Alligator Creek, 130mm Annandale