Townsville begins flooding as some areas face downpours of 500mm+
Townsville is already facing widespread flooding as the region is battered by torrential rains but weather experts say there could be another 500mm to 1000mm of rain possible over the weekend. NEW PHOTOS, VIDEOS
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Townsville is already facing widespread flooding as the region is battered by torrential rains.
One resident posted there was ‘flooding everywhere in Townsville’ with bus services disrupted across many routes.
Some roads were already blocked with authorities pleading with motorists to avoid all travel.
TMR advised that water had begun to inundate the Bruce Highway at Alligator Creek-Nome between Townsville and Ayr.
The highway is not yet officially closed either south or north of Townsville.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of flash flooding for a wide area of North Queensland, with six hour rainfall totals possibly reaching 180mm and hourly rainfall totals possibly reaching 80-90mm (most likely with isolated thunderstorm activity).
The risk will only increase over the weekend, mostly likely between Innisfail and Ayr, although there is some uncertainty as to exactly where the heaviest rainfall will occur, the bureau said.
Six hour rainfall totals of 100-180mm are likely, with isolated 6 hour totals up to 220mm. 24 hour rainfall totals of 200-300mm are also likely, with isolated falls of up to 500mm.
“There is also the risk of very localised intense rainfall over the weekend, which could bring even higher isolated rainfall totals,’’ the bureau said.
Higgins Storm Chasing had even more dire forecasts. “High res data is suggesting 500 to 1000mm possible in the next 36hrs between Cairns & Ayr.
“ Forecast data has a real TC Jasper 2.0 or 2019 Townsville Flood potential about it... Other models are up to 2000mm in the next 4 days! This could get really ugly...”
According to the Townsville Disaster Dashboard, Railway Estate is copping a battering between Boundary Street and Queens Road on Railway Ave.
Queensland Ambulance Service says parts of Hugh Street near Pimlico High School as well as Bayswater Rd are also experiencing significant flooding.
Social media posts are also reporting significant downfalls and flooding in South Townsville and Thuringowa Drive, although the dashboard is not keeping pace the deluge.
Townsville Local Disaster Management Group chairman Andrew Robinson told a briefing that rainfall so far had mainly been on the coastal area, rather than the dam catchment area.
There had been about 70mm over the dam which was being monitored.
“The dam operators are at alert level, they have been watching it for a while now.
“This is not a 1 in 20 yr event. This is a 1 in 2 yr event given the current forecast.
“Be aware, be alert but don’t be alarmed. It’s not too late to still plan, decide what you are going to do in the event you house is inundated.
“ People should be making their own plans to be self-sufficient.
“The expectation is we will get heavy rain over Saturday and Sunday and easing Monday and Tuesday. BOM has issued a “moderate to major” flood warning for Hinchinbrook, Townsville and the Burdekin catchments from Saturday.
Catchments likely to be affected include: Johnstone River Murray River Herbert River Black River Ross and Bohle Rivers Haughton River Burdekin River to Burdekin Falls Dam Burdekin River downstream of Burdekin Falls Dam Don and Proserpine Rivers.
Flood warnings are current for theTully River, Mulgrave and Russell Rivers and Don River.
FIRST CROCS SPOTTED IN FLOODWATER
Amidst the flooding seen across the Townsville region on Friday, there was a stark reminder not to enter floodwaters with a crocodile snapped swimming down Lake Idalia. Trent Turner posted to the Everything Townsville Facebook page showing a photo of the croc swimming in Lake Idalia along Harkness Parade, as the water rises.
Another crocodile has been spotted near Louisa Creek, in Mount Louisa.
Dr Steven Donohue, Townsville public health unit director, said at risk groups included the elderly or a diabetic person who thinks they just want to help and clean up the garden.
“Don’t, even a scratch can get contaminated. It’s the young people who clean up if necessary and that’s only when necessary and you’re wearing proper boots or protective gear.
“Flood waters bring hygiene problems,’’ Dr Donohue said.
Police have advised of flooding on Nathan St at the Charles St intersection in Cranbrook.
Significant flooding on Bayswater, all traffic in bound from Dalrymple has been stopped.
Access road to BP Deeragun is flooded – the service station is closed.
Other roads impacted include:
Charlotte st + Ross River Rd
Anne St + Ross River Rd
Thuringowa Dr + Charlotte St
Carthew St + Thuringowa Dr
Ingham Rd near airport
Albert Street near Townsville Shopping Centre
Hugh St
Palmerston St
Luka St + Mooney St
Fulham Rd
Bayswater Rd+ Mooney St
Kokoda St towards Stuart Dr from Ottos entrance is closed
Stuart Dr from University Rd to the service station in closed
The Ross River Dam was sitting at 92 per cent capacity, well below the historic high of 233 per cent prior to the Townville flood disaster.
Townsville Catholic Education advised parents at 1.15pm that school bus services had been cancelled.
“Due to the Kinetic Townsville depot being flooded, and buses not able to get out, we have been advised that all public and school buses have been cancelled,” it reported on social-media.
“Parents will need to be notified to make personal arrangements.”
It said the situation would be assessed every 15 minutes.
There are also reports of widespread flooding in Kirwan with at least one car “completely submerged” near the police station.
According to the BOM, Townsville City has been bombarded with rainfall totals in excess of 100mm since 9am, the highest in the region. North Ward alone has recorded 120mm.
Despite the deluge, there are no reports of power outages, according to Ergon Energy.
A QPS spokeswoman said there were reports of widespread flooding and of motorists becoming trapped in inundated roads.
She warned people against driving through any floodwaters, with the risk potentially stretching emergency services further.
There are reports that ambulance and police stations have been blocked by floodwaters.
‘COUNCIL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL’
James Donald accused TCC of being “asleep at the wheel again”, which was ironic given the fact the council had warned residents to be prepared in advance.
“How hard was it to dump a load of sand yesterday in one location.”
The council also advised residents that they needed to supply their own bags to put sand in and for the elderly or disabled in need of sandbags to reach out to friends, family or “even your neighbour” for help. “SES can also assist - 13 25 00.”
FIREBIRDS CANCEL VISIT AMID FLOODING
The impact of Townsville’s wild weather is also being felt on its sporting fields, with visiting netball team the Queensland Firebirds forced to abandon a promotional tour to the region this weekend.
The Firebirds were due to visit the Whitsundays and the Burdekin in addition to Townsville but pulled the pin on Friday afternoon.
“The Queensland Firebirds have unfortunately made the decision to cancel planned Suncorp Regional Tours to the Whitsundays, Burdekin and Townsville this weekend,” the club said in a statement.
“Inclement and potentially dangerous weather conditions are forecast to persist across the region this weekend and it has been decided for the safety of all involved to cancel the trip.
“The Firebirds regret any inconvenience this decision will cause.“
The club has promised to refund attendees to the coaching clinic and will advise if the trip is able to be rescheduled.
Further north in Cairns there have people rescued from floodwaters in Gordonvale (video below).
Earlier, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warning that rainfall will increase significantly over the weekend.
A severe weather warning has been reissued for heavy rain and potential flash flooding along the north tropical coast, including Townsville, Ingham, and Ayr.
The Townsville Local Disaster Management Group (TLDMG) has moved into ‘alert’ status, closely monitoring the developing situation.
BOM forecasts the slow-moving system will bring bands of showers and rain throughout Friday, with rainfall intensifying over Saturday and Sunday as the system stalls along the coast.
Heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding could develop from Friday evening, with six-hour rainfall totals of up to 180mm, and hourly totals reaching 80-90mm in localised areas.
The situation is expected to intensify over the weekend, particularly between Innisfail and Ayr, though forecasters remain uncertain about where the heaviest falls will occur.
Some locations could see six-hour rainfall totals between 100mm and 180mm, with isolated areas recording up to 220mm.
Over a 24-hour period, rainfall is likely to reach 200-300mm, with some areas seeing isolated falls of up to 500mm.
Flood warnings and watches are in place across Townsville, Palm Island, Ingham, Innisfail, Ayr, Home Hill, Cardwell, Tully, Giru, Clare, and Lucinda.
Many of those areas have already seen quite a bit of rainfall over the past 7 days, with totals reaching up 347mm in Ingham, 563mm at Cardwell Range, 468mm at Halifax, 200mm at Townsville and 292mm at Alva Beach.
Daniel Hayes, BOM community information officer, said the current forecast suggests rainfall totals could approach, but may not quite reach, the levels seen during the 2019 Townsville floods, which saw 800-1200mm over a 7-day period.
“We’re probably pushing up towards the lower end of that anyway, into that 800 to 900mm over several days,” he said.
He said the weather system is expected to move away by early next week, but enhanced rainfall is still likely to continue, though becoming more isolated.
Rain continues in #Qld's #NorthTropicalCoast, with showers and possibly severe #storms bringing the risk of heavy falls again today.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) January 30, 2025
Significant #FlashFlooding is an acute risk, with riverine #flooding expected to increase.
Latest: https://t.co/4W35o8i7wJpic.twitter.com/9waAfDTUCW
Townsville Local Disaster Management Group Chair Andrew Robinson is asking residents to prepare by checking their emergency plans, having an emergency kit ready, and making arrangements for pets and medical needs.
“There is no need to panic,” he said.
“What we need is for residents to go through their emergency plan with their households, have their emergency kit ready and be prepared to leave if it’s required during the coming days.
“If anyone in your household has a medical condition, make sure their medication is in your emergency kit. If you have infants, make sure they have enough formula, nappies and clothing for at least three days.
“Make sure you have a plan for your pets in case weather gets worse, including having food for your animals in your emergency kit and a safe place for your pets to go if you need to leave your home.
“Remember, if it’s flooded, forget it. Do not drive through flood waters. Do not put your life at risk.”
Concerns over cane fields
A peak industry body representing North Queensland cane farmers said it was working with the Queensland Government’s disaster preparedness team as severe weather threatened cane-farming communities across the state’s North.
Canegrowers CEO Dan Galligan said he had attended a government briefing to ensure the industry’s concerns were heard as authorities ramp up their effort to prepare for and monitor the unfolding weather event.
“With cane-growing regions directly in the firing line, it is crucial that growers know that their industry organisation is working directly with government to prepare for all eventualities,” he said on Friday afternoon.
“Some sugarcane regions have already recorded between 600mm and 700mm of rainfall since the start of the week, with more on the way.
“(We are) working closely with the government to ensure our members will have access to the resources they need.”
The BOM’s seven-day forecast indicates that up to three tropical lows could intensify, posing further threats to the region especially on top of high tides in the region.
Originally published as Townsville begins flooding as some areas face downpours of 500mm+
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