North Qld floods safety guide: forecast, BOM & road closures

Severe weather is impacting parts of Northern Queensland. Here is everything you need to know, including the latest warnings and advice from the Bureau of Meteorology, as well as where to find safety.

Severe weather is impacting parts of North Qld. Picture: BOM

Severe weather is impacting parts of Northern Queensland, with thousands told to evacuate ahead of life-threatening flooding which could inundate 1700 homes.

Here is everything you need to know and the latest warnings and advice from the Bureau of Meteorology.

WARNINGS

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING

Weather situation: An elongated low pressure system embedded within the monsoon trough is currently located across the southwestern Cape York Peninsula resulting in enhanced rainfall and winds about the northeast coast of Queensland. Very significant rainfall accumulations are expected due to the slow-moving nature of the low and trough in an air mass rich in tropical moisture.

Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is forecast between Tully and Giru, and inland to the far western Herbert and Lower Burdekin district, including Townsville. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 100 to 160mm are likely, with isolated falls up to 200mm. 24-hourly rainfall totals up to 300mm are likely.

Locally intense rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is also possible between Cardwell and Yabulu, including the towns of Rollingstone, Paluma and Ingham during this period. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 180 to 280mm are possible. 24-hourly totals of around 500mm are possible.

A separate Severe Thunderstorm Warning will be issued if very dangerous thunderstorms with intense rainfall are detected.

Strong to damaging winds averaging 55 to 65km/h with peak gusts of around 90km/h are also possible for the islands and coastal fringe between Cardwell and Giru. Winds are forecast to ease during Monday morning.

The potential for heavy, locally intense rainfall may continue over the next few days subject to the strength and position of the trough and low.

A flood watch and various flood warnings are current for parts of northeastern Queensland.

‘Worst yet to come’: 1700 homes at serious risk amid 1000mm North Qld deluge

Locations which may be affected include Townsville, Palm Island, Ingham, Rollingstone, Cardwell, Giru and Lucinda.

Please refer to http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings for more information.

A critical water alert has been issed for Charters Towers. Residents are encouraged to follow water saving measures to ensure the town water supply is maintained after an intake failure at the Weir.

Residents are asked to conserve water as follows:

Delay washing your clothes.

Take shorter showers.

Only flush your toilet when it’s necessary.

Severe weather is no longer occurring in the Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders district and the warning for this district is CANCELLED.

6 hour rainfall totals to 4:00am Monday AEST include:

335mm at Cardwell Gap

222mm at Gairloch

211mm at Ingham

176mm at Halifax

141mm at Paluma Dam

124mm at Rollingstone

The BOM flood warning summary at 9am on Monday.

FLOOD WARNINGS

The following watches/warnings are current:

Flood Watch for parts of the Burdekin and Proserpine Catchments

Major Flood Warning for the Haughton River Catchment

Major Flood Warning for the Herbert River

Major Flood Warning for the Ross and Bohle Rivers and Flood Warning for the Black River and Bluewater Creek

Major Flood Warning for the Upper Burdekin River and Minor Flood Warning for the Lower Burdekin River

Moderate Flood Warning for the Tully River and Major Flood Warning for the Murray River

Minor Flood Warning for the Don River

Minor Flood Warning for the Johnstone River Catchment

Minor Flood Warning for the Mulgrave River and Flood Warning for the Russell River

Minor Flood Warning for the Pioneer River

IN PHOTOS: Qld’s wet and wild weather

VIEW GALLERY

ROAD CLOSURES AND PREPARATIONS

SCHOOL CLOSURES

State school closures

* Abergowrie State School

5 Venables Road, Abergowrie, 4850

* Airville State School

920 Old Clare Road, Airville, 4807

* Aitkenvale State School

67-85 Wotton Street, Aitkenvale, 4814

* Annandale State School

Cnr Oleander Street & Yolanda Drive, Annandale, 4814

* Belgian Gardens State School

43 Potts Street, Belgian Gardens, 4810

* Bluewater State School

Buckby Street, Bluewater, 4818

* Bohlevale State School

Bohlevale School Road, Burdell, 4818

* Brandon State School

Drysdale Street, Brandon, 4808

* Burdekin School

159 Young Street, Ayr, 4807

* Bwgcolman Community School

Creek Road, Palm Island, 4816

* Cardwell State School

43 Victoria Street, Cardwell, 4849

* Clare State School

Larkin Street, Clare, 4807

* Cleveland Education and Training Centre

Old Common Road, Rowes Bay, 4810

* Cranbrook State School

Alice Street, Cranbrook, 4814

* Currajong State School

140 Palmerston Street, Gulliver, 4812

* Forrest Beach State School

40 Pandanus Street, Forrest Beach, 4850

* Garbutt State School

76 Chandler Street, Garbutt, 4814

* Giru State School

45-51 Luxton Street, Giru, 4809

* Halifax State School

17 Victoria Terrace, Halifax, 4850

* Heatley Secondary College

Cnr Hanlon Street & Fulham Road, Heatley, 4814

* Heatley State School

410 Fulham Road, Heatley, 4814

* Hermit Park State School

Cnr Surrey & Sussex Streets, Hyde Park, 4812

* Ingham State High School

12 Menzies Street, Ingham, 4850

* Ingham State School

28 McIlwraith Street, Ingham, 4850

* Irvinebank State School

High Street, Irvinebank, 4887

* Jarvisfield State School

18 Loram Road, Jarvisfield, 4807

* Kalamia State School

Lilliesmere Road, Brandon, 4808

* Kelso State School

Yvette Street, Kelso, 4815

* Kennedy State School

161 Kennedy Creek Road, Kennedy, 4816

* Kirwan State High School

Hudson Street, Kirwan, 4817

* Kirwan State School

21 Burnda Street, Kirwan, 4817

* Lower Tully State School

6 Collins Road, Lower Tully, 4854

* Macknade State School

79 Farrell Drive, Macknade, 4850

* Magnetic Island State School

10-16 Mandalay Avenue, Nelly Bay, 4819

* Maidavale State School

Maidavale Road, Airville, 4807

* Merinda State School

Bergl Street, Bowen, 4805

* Millaroo State School

Cunningham Street, Millaroo, 4807

* Mount Fox State School

2957 Mt Fox Road, Mount Fox, 4850

* Mundingburra State School

77 Ross River Road, Mundingburra, 4812

* Murray River Upper State School

1 Middle Murray Road, Murray Upper, 4854

* Mutarnee State School

School Road, Mutarnee, 4816

* North Shore State School

9 Langford Street, Burdell, 4818

* Northern Beaches State High School

Meranti Street, Deeragun, 4818

* Oonoonba State School

Fairfield Waters Drive, Idalia, 4811

* Osborne State School

Kirknie Road, Osborne, 4806

* Paluma Environmental Education Centre

53 Mt Spec Road, Paluma, 4816

* Pimlico State High School

Fulham Road, Gulliver, 4812

* Queensland Pathways State College - Townsville Campus

1B Core Street, Gulliver, 4812

* Railway Estate State School

39 Railway Avenue, Railway Estate, 4810

* Rasmussen State School

19 Allambie Lane, Rasmussen, 4815

* Rollingstone State School

Fred Williams Drive, Rollingstone, 4816

* The Willows State School

Bilberry Street, Kirwan, 4817

* Thuringowa State High School

26 - 54 Vickers Road South, Condon, 4815

* Toobanna State School

Bruce Highway, Toobanna, 4850

* Townsville Central State School

4 Warburton Street, North Ward, 4810

* Townsville Community Learning Centre - A State Special School

78 Thompson Street, Mundingburra, 4812

* Townsville South State School

78 Tully Street, South Townsville, 4810

* Townsville State High School

36 Boundary Street, Railway Estate, 4810

* Townsville West State School

Wilson Street, West End, 4810

* Trebonne State School

71 Stone River Road, Trebonne, 4850

* Victoria Plantation State School

244 Forrest Beach Road, Victoria Plantation, 4850

* Vincent State School

280 Palmerston Street, Vincent, 4814

* Weir State School

592 Ross River Road, Thuringowa Central, 4817

* William Ross State High School

Mervyn Crossman Drive, Annandale, 4814

* Woodstock State School

Woodstock Avenue, Woodstock, 4816

* Wulguru State School

Edison Street, Wulguru, 4811

Independent School Closures

* Annandale Christian College (Annandale)

104-156 Yolanda Drive, Annandale, 4814

* Burdekin Christian College (Melbourne St - Ayr)

2-12 Melbourne Street, Ayr, 4807

* Calvary Christian College (Mount Louisa)

569 Bayswater Road, Mount Louisa, 4814

* Carinity Education - Shalom (Condon)

190 Hervey Range Road, Condon, 4815

* Enkindle Village School (Douglas)

James Cook Drive, Douglas, 4814

* Mungalla Silver Lining School (Mutarnee)

Spiegelhauer Road, Mutarnee, 4816

* Riverside Adventist School (Aitkenvale)

59 Leopold Street, Aitkenvale, 4814

* Silver Lining School (Cluden)

16 Jurekey Street, Cluden, 4811

* Tec-NQ (Douglas)

54 Discovery Drive, Douglas, 4814

* Tec-NQ (Rosslea)

42-44 Bowen Road, Rosslea, 4812

* The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James (Mundingburra)

154 Ross River Road, Mundingburra, 4812

* Townsville Christian College (Vincent)

210 Palmerston Street, Vincent, 4814

* Townsville Grammar School (Annandale)

1 Brazier Drive, Annandale, 4814

* Townsville Grammar School (Burdell)

Cnr Erskine Place & North Shore Boulevard, Burdell, 4818

* Townsville Grammar School (North Ward)

45 Paxton Street, North Ward, 4810

* Yallorin Yimba Silver Lining School (CL)

16 Jurekey Street, Cluden, 4811

Catholic School Closures

* Burdekin Catholic High School (Ayr)

45 Gibson Street, Ayr, 4807

* Gilroy Santa Maria College (Ingham)

17 Chamberlain Street, Ingham, 4850

* Good Shepherd Catholic School (Rasmussen)

65 Allambie Lane, Rasmussen, 4815

* Holy Spirit Catholic School (Cranbrook)

Hatchett Street, Cranbrook, 4814

* Ignatius Park College (Cranbrook)

368-384 Ross River Road, Cranbrook, 4814

* Marian Catholic School (Currajong)

198 - 208 Hugh Street, Currajong, 4812

* Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School (Ingham)

18 Abbott Street, Ingham, 4850

* Ryan Catholic College (Kirwan)

59 Canterbury Road, Kirwan, 4817

* Southern Cross Catholic College (Townsville)

Gartrell Drive, Annandale, 4814

* St Anthony’s Catholic College (Veales Rd - Deeragun)

Veales Road, Deeragun, 4818

* St Benedict’s Catholic School (Shaw)

890 Dalrymple Road, Shaw, 4818

* St Clare’s Catholic School (Burdell)

Burdell Drive, Burdell, 4818

* St Colman’s Catholic School (Home Hill)

Eleventh Avenue, Home Hill, 4806

* St Francis Catholic School (Ayr)

99 Edwards Street, Ayr, 4807

* St Joseph’s Catholic School, The Strand (North Ward)

Fryer Street, North Ward, 4810

* St Joseph’s School (Mundingburra)

65-75 Ross River Road, Mundingburra, 4812

* St Margaret Mary’s College (Hyde Park)

1-9 Crowle Street, Hyde Park, 4812

* St Michael’s Catholic School (Palm Island)

Banfield Highway, Palm Island, 4816

* St Patrick’s College Townsville (Townsville)

45 The Strand, Townsville, 4810

* St Peter’s Catholic School (Halifax)

15-17 Anderssen Street, Halifax, 4850

* St Teresa’s College (Abergowrie)

3819 Abergowrie Road, Abergowrie, 4850

* Townsville Flexible School (Cunningham St - Ayr)

1-45 Cunningham Street, Ayr, 4807

* Townsville Flexible School (George St Bo)

48B George Street, Bowen, 4805

* Townsville Flexible School (West End, Townsville)

26 Ingham Road, West End, Townsville, 4810

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POWER OUTAGES

EVACUATION CENTRES AND SAFETY ROUTES

DISASTER ASSISTANCE

The Australian and Queensland Governments have extended Disaster assistance to more north Queenslanders affected by the devastating rains and flooding that continues to bear down on the region.

Eligible residents in the local government area of Hinchinbrook and targeted areas in Palm Island can now apply for Personal Hardship Assistance to assist their recovery.

Grants of $180 for individuals and up to $900 for families of five or more are available for emergency essentials, while other targeted measures cover loss of services, replacement of damaged appliances, and property structural repairs for uninsured low-income earners.

Cassowary Coast, Hinchinbrook and Tablelands Councils have also been activated for financial support to assist with their counter disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential public assets.

This assistance is provided by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the jointly funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and follows the activation of Personal Hardship Assistance for parts of Townsville and Gordonvale.

Eligible residents can apply via www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or by calling the Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

Originally published as North Qld floods safety guide: forecast, BOM & road closures