Mackay floods as airport shuts, BOM warns of more rain to come

Hundreds are without power, cars have conked out in floodwaters and the airport is shut after 192mm of rain hit parts of the region overnight. LATEST

Authorities are warning about flooding on the city fringe as parts of Mackay were drenched with 190mm of rain, and waterlogged roads force the airport to close.

Streets including parts of Shakespeare St, James St and Evans St near Mackay State High School, Juliet St and Mackay Christian College, were inundated in the early morning, and near the airport at least three cars were flooded over.

Mackay floods, airport shuts as wild rains shift south

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Meanwhile, Hamilton Island has been warned of severe thunderstorms after almost 80mm of rain fell in one hour.

Mackay Airport has warned morning passengers not to attempt to drive in, as Boundary Rd is flooded shut.

“The safety of passengers, our community, and stakeholders is our highest priority,” the airport said.

“Please contact your airline directly for further information if you are due to fly in or out of the airport today.”

Taylah Forbes and Ben Stubbings are stocking up on sandbags as floodwaters threaten their home. Picture: Luke Lay

A BOM spokeswoman said more rain is expected for tonight, but not more than 50mm during the day.

The big dump was forecast to sit offshore but instead came overland and sat stationary, she said.

“We still have some rain about but we’re not having those high totals of 190mm in parts of Mackay and Capricornia that we woke up to” the spokesman said.
“Parts of Mackay reached 192mm, the highest we’ve had since March 30, 2017 at one location in Mackay.”

Stancia Guthrie snapped this photo of Sydney St in the early morning of February 4, 2025 as the Mackay CBD flooded from 150mm of overnight rain.

Thunderstorms are possible, with a very high chance of showers are predicted into the afternoon and evening, she said.

The current forecast shows most likely rainfall totals of around 5-40mm on Wednesday and Thursday.

The BOM spokeswoman added 15mm of rain is expected at the airport for the rest of the day, which has copped 434mm in the past seven days.

Road closures set up at Milton St near the Mackay Airport. Photo taken at 9.00am on February 4, 2025. Picture: Janessa Ekert

Jeff Sturdy, owner, Treadwell Tyre Services said flooding is a “common occurrence” on Boundary Rd East because of the causeway, and high tide makes things worse.

He said in the 18 years he’s been there, people will drive through flooded roads unless council puts signs up — which they have today.

“Three cars broke down this morning halfway through the floodwater,” Mr Sturdy said.

“They hit the water too fast, cars going the other way swamp them and they stop.

Jeff Sturdy, owner, Treadwell Tyre Service on Boundary Rd East watched three cars break down in the morning of February 4, 2025, driving through floodwaters. Picture: Janessa Ekert

Mr Sturdy warned drivers they shouldn’t be driving through floodwaters.

“I know people have places to go but at the end of the day people don’t realise how deep it is — especially where the creek is. It catches people out.”

More than a thousand residents have lost power.

Some 722 customers in Balnagowan, Coningsby, Dumbleton, Erakla, Farleigh, Foulden, Glenella, Habana, North Mackay, Palmyra and The Leap are experiencing power outages as Ergon attempts emergency maintenance of the electricity network.

Power outages are also affecting Kuttabul, Marian, Seaforth and Yakapari due to “operating of protective equipment” according to the Mackay Emergency Dashboard.

At least 40 Owens Creek residents are also suffering a power outage to allow for “emergency maintenance of the electricity network”.

Power is expected to return to Owens Creek by 3.30pm.

As of 11.54am, these roads are believed to be flooded and closed, according to the Mackay Emergency Dashboard.

• Mirani - Leichhardt Rd
• North Eton - Mackay Regional Marian Eton Road
  
• North Eton - Kinchant Dam Rd
• Calen - Barron Pocket Road
  
• Olivers Crossing, Kowari - Gorge Road
• Habana - Neills Rd
• Beaconsfield - Holts Rd, Beaconsfield Rd, Golf Links Rd
• Glenella - Hicks Rd
• Walkerston - Pugsley St

Mackay Regional Council has closed Sarina Customer Service Centre, Sarina Neighbourhood Centre, Sarina Youth Centre and Library and Sarina Rural Transfer Station.

Water comes close in South Mackay

Eric, a Forth St resident in South Mackay watched the water lap at his garage door at 6.30am.

When cars drive past, the water smashes his house.

“They come full bore.

“These cars come through and they do more damage than the floodwaters.”

Eric, a resident of Forth St in South Mackay, had water lapping at his garage door at 6.30am on February 4, 2025. When cars drive through at speed his property gets slapped with water. Photo taken at 9am. Picture: Luke Lay

It’s not his first local flooding in three decades.

“We’ve been here for 30 years and we’ve had it half a dozen times under,” Eric said.

“I asked the council for some road closed signs but they’re never around you know.”

Flooding on Forth St at Penn St intersection in South Mackay, taken at 8.45am on February 4, 2025. Picture: Luke Lay

Claudia Smith and Aisha Adams are housesitting a home in Forth St, South Mackay, and “weren’t really prepared” for a potential flood.

“It shot up in half an hour,” Ms Smith said.

“ We checked at 6am and it was still fine but by 6:30 am it was lapping at our door. It’s gone back now.

“They’re old drains these ones, so we’ve heard.”

Claudia Smith (left) and Aisha Adams (right). Photo taken on February 4, 2025. Picture: Luke Lay

Pioneer River levels are meant to stay well below the minor flood level of six metres.

Rain lashes North Queensland, some relief on the way

This comes as rain is easing further north but danger remains with potential flash flooding and displaced crocodiles after multiple rivers breached their banks.

McIlwraith Street opposite the Ingham Hospital on Tuesday. Photographs of the Ingham floods 2025 in Hinchinbrook Shire, North Queensland. Picture: Cameron Bates

Over the past three days homes, roads and bridges have been smashed and dozen rescued from history-breaking floods that cost the life of a woman in Ingham under the relentless rain.

Cardwell, north of Townsville had another 141mm in the 19 hours until 4am, while Townsville itself had just under 50mm of rainfall.

Halifax recorded 102, while further Saltwater Creek near Innisfail had 120mm of rain.

In its latest forecast the Bureau of Meteorology said a gradual weakening of the low and monsoon flow will see the risk of heavy rainfall confined to more localised parts of the warning area Tuesday morning.

An aerial view of flood-affected areas around Townsville, Queensland. Picture: AFP Photo

Areas of heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding are forecast between Cardwell to Yabulu.

“Six-hourly rainfall totals between 100 to 140mm are possible. With isolated falls up to 180mm possible.”

“This risk is expected to persist Tuesday morning.”

It comes as an extraordinary video has emerged of a woman, being visited by a crocodile at the stairs of her highset house on the Haughton River near Giru.

The freshwater crocodile is seen struggling to swim against the rapidly moving floodwater and ends up by washed closer to the home.

Originally published as Mackay floods as airport shuts, BOM warns of more rain to come