Townsville begins flooding as some areas face downpours of 500mm+

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. VIDEO

A truck crosses the flooded road as the deluge sets in across Townsville on Friday, January 31.

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 reported to be blocked.

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.

The TCC disaster dashboard is slowly being updated with the latest incidents of flooding.

Floodwaters on Charles Street in Heatley, Townsville, on Friday afternoon. Picture: Jami Roberts

In its latest post at 1.02pm, is advised residents of flooding on Nathan St at the Charles St intersection in Cranbrook.

The Ross River Dam is currently 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.”

A local resident checks out the flooding in Townsville on Friday, January 31.

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.

Townsville Local Disaster Management Group in conjunction the Townsville City Council and Queensland Police Service are expected to hold a news conference at 2pm.

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.

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.

Severe weather including torrential monsoonal rain is battering Townsville resulting in significant surface flooding throughout the city. Picture: BOM

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.

Wet weather forecast to hit Townsville on Saturday, February 1. Source: Windy

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.

Ben Francoise White filled up some sandbags to protect his property.

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.

Significant #FlashFlooding is an acute risk, with riverine #flooding expected to increase.

Latest: https://t.co/4W35o8i7wJpic.twitter.com/9waAfDTUCW

— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) January 30, 2025

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.”

Originally published as Townsville begins flooding as some areas face downpours of 500mm+