Chilling ‘black zone’ flood warning issued for parts of Queensland

Thousands of people are being told to shelter now as dangerous floodwaters inundate towns and cities in North Queensland.

Thousands of Queenslanders are being told to take shelter now or evacuate as part of the state is pummelled by heavy rain.

The warning has been issued as tropical lows cause widespread rainfall around north Queensland, leading to warnings of dangerous and life-threatening flooding reaching up to two storey floors after a days-long deluge.

Heavy rain continues to hammer areas of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin and North Tropical Coast, extending from Mackay to south of Cairns.

The Paluma Dam, north of Townsville, has now recorded 717mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am Sunday.

The bureau has issued further severe flood warnings for residents from Cairns to Mackay, with life-threatening levels of rain expected to continue all weekend. Meteorologists have warned up to 1m of rainfall could hit the coast over the next few days. Picture: BOM

A “black zone” has been declared in the Townsville suburbs of Cluden, Hermit Park, Idalia, Oonoonba, Railway Estate and Rosslea; Residents have been warned the Ross River is rising fast and there will be dangerous and life-threatening flooding.

“Residents need to leave as soon as it is safe to do so, before 12 noon Sunday. If you do not leave it may become too dangerous for emergency services to rescue you,” warnings from emergency services say.

A warning was also issued for the Hinchinbrook Shire, directly north of Townsville, about 4.30am Queensland time on Sunday.

“Dangerous flooding happening now,” the warning reads.

“Ingham Pump Station forecast to reach 15 metres early afternoon, 2 February 2025. 1967 floods peaked at 15.2 meters. Ingham Showgrounds Evacuation Centre open.

“If it is too dangerous to leave, get up as high as you can.”

State MP Natalia Marr, left, works with other Townsville locals to fill sandbags. Picture: Facebook

Hundreds of millimetres of rain have fallen across North Queensland in the past 24 hours after an almost week-long downpour.

Townsville residents are reporting fallen trees as heavy winds hit the area too.

Ingham, home to 5000 people, 100km north of Townsville, has been cut off by flood waters. Running just north of Ingham, the Herbert River has well and truly burst.

The Bureau of Meteorology says at one crossing - the Abergowrie Bridge - water is at 16.15 metres, above the major flood level of 14 metres.

“The Herbert River at Abergowrie Bridge may reach around 17.00 metres Sunday morning,” a bureau warning states.

“Further rises are possible with forecast rainfall. This is higher than the flood level in March 2018 that reached 16.80 metres.”

Back in Townsville, residents of six suburbs on the city’s flood plain have been told to evacuate.

Flooding in North Queensland brings the prospect of crocodiles entering suburban areas. Picture: 9News

The affected area is the low lying section on the eastern side of the city, which will be inundated when the Ross River breaks.

“Flooding above ground floor level is likely in some places,” the Townsville City Council warns.

“With forecast rainfall, the Ross River at Aplin Weir is likely to exceed the moderate flood level (1.60m) Sunday morning, and is likely to exceed the major flood level (1.80m) around midday Sunday,” the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts.

“Earlier rises to major flood levels are possible if intense rainfall eventuates Sunday morning. Further rises are expected across the next few days.”

Ingham and the wider Hinchinbrook Shire (under the red area) is flooding. Picture: Queensland Government

Speaking to the ABC on Sunday morning, Premier David Crisafulli - originally from Ingham - told Townsville residents in the flood plain to leave by midday, as per forecasts and warnings from emergency services.

Despite many homes in Ingham being built on tall stilts, Mr Crisafulli told residents there to not risk floodwaters reaching metres up to the floorboards.

“If it is safe to do so and you believe you are in danger, please go and be with friends and family,” he said.

“Please. If that is not an option, there is an evacuation centre at the Ingham State High School.”

The Premier emphatically repeated the warning from emergency services, that homes in the Townsville flood plain would be in danger on Sunday, and all residents should leave by 12pm Sunday.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli’s hometown of Ingham is flooding on Sunday. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

“For people in Townsville, and I am asking people to heed this. Yesterday we spoke about the black zone, and we had around 170 crews go doorknock and say to people please prepare, get ready to leave.

“Well, today I am asking people in those areas to leave by midday.”

HEATWAVES

While North Queensland floods, much of the rest of the country is in low-to-severe heatwave conditions.

Severe heatwaves are forecast to blanket the eastern half of Victoria on Sunday, spilling across the border into NSW. The southwest-half of NSW will experience a low-intensity heatwave from Sunday, except the coast from Wollongong northward.

Melbourne is forecast to reach 38 degrees with a possible storm on Sunday, with temperatures in the mid-to-high 30s on Monday and Tuesday.

A major heatwave centred around WA’s Gascoyne region is emanating outward to the desserts of WA, the Northern Territory and South Australia. While Perth and most West Australians escape the heatwave, the balmy conditions will be felt in Adelaide and Darwin.

Adelaide is in for sunny conditions in the high 30s for the next week, while Tasmania will feel the heat too. Heatwaves are forecast for the Apple Isle, as Hobart is expected to reach 43 degrees on Monday.

Originally published as Chilling ‘black zone’ flood warning issued for parts of Queensland