Cairns weather: Flood warnings for Georgetown as monsoon trough brings more heavy rain

Parts of the Gulf Country are on flood watch as more rain and thunderstorms are forecast to hit Cairns in the coming days, along with king tides.

More showers and thunderstorms are headed for the Cairns region in the coming days and through the weekend, according to forecasters.

There is also potential for heavy falls and flash flooding in the region’s catchments and king tides are also expected to impact Cairns between February 7 and February 15.

Bureau of Meteorology community information officer Daniel Hayes said while riverine flooding was not yet severe, smaller coastal rivers and creeks would likely respond quickly to more heavy rain, which is on the way.

“Showers are likely to continue through the weekend, with the potential for thunderstorms over the next few days,” he said.

“Bringing with it more heavy rainfall, especially if they intensify, there’s a risk of flash flooding in certain areas, particularly around the catchments.”

Smithfield shopping centre gets hit by heavy rain. Picture: Facebook.

McGregor Road, Smithfield on Tuesday 1AM February 4. Residents try to drive through flood waters. Picture: QPS

“Minor flood warnings are in place for the Mulgrave and Russell rivers with the monsoon trough expected to keep North Queensland wet for the next week,” he said.

Residents experienced some flash flooding across Cairns yesterday and similar incidents could occur in the coming days, he said.

“The rain will mainly be showers, with short bursts of heavier thunderstorms potentially dropping up to 100mm or more in some spots,” Mr Hayes said.

These short, intense bursts of rainfall will likely persist for several days.

“Inland areas are also experiencing rainfall, with flooding reported near Georgetown,” Mr Hayes said.

Georgetown residents were urged to move to higher ground in the early hours of Wednesday morning as emergency services issued an alert.

Just after 3.30am, the warning was issued for dangerous flooding in low-lying regions, particularly near the Etheridge and Delaney rivers.

People were urged to move to higher ground immediately due to rapidly rising water and dangerous flooding and to stay away from creeks and rivers.

A flooded street in Brinsmead has residents stunned at the pace at which the streets are flooding. Picture: Facebook.

On Tuesday and throughout the night, northern Queensland was hit by continuous and heavy rainfall, showers and thunderstorms.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said the storms added to the already significant rainfall from the past week.

 “Many of these areas have already seen huge amounts of rainfall over the past week, and these heavier falls simply added to those totals,” she said.

Heavy rain was recorded along the north tropical coast, reaching areas like Richmond, and severe storms developed cross parts of the Cassowary Coast yesterday afternoon, particularly south of Gordonvale.

“Areas like South Mission Beach received 155mm in three hours,” she said.

The Bureau recorded from 9am Tuesday to 5am Wednesday, rainfall between Cairns and Ingham ranged from 100mm to 200mm.

South Mission Beach received a total of 287mm, and Clyde Road near Babinda got 223mm.

Ms Bradbury said major flooding was occuring across the Herbert River catchment, though water levels were stabilising and beginning to gradually recede.

Residents loading up sand bags to protect homes and businesses. Picture: Facebook

“Parts of the catchment flood levels are now holding steady or have begun to gradually fall,” she said,

“Although they’re still well above the major flood level.”

While parts of Gulf Country, parts of the Burdekin and the Thomson River catchment area was on flood watch, there was also a major flood warning in effect for the Herbert River, as well as moderate flood warnings for the Murray River, the Burdekin River, the Connors and Isaac rivers and the Ross River.

Minor flood warnings are current for the Mulgrave River, the Tully River, the Russell River, the Bohle River, Black River, Bluewater Creek, Don River, Proserpine River, the Haughton River catchment and the Gilbert River.

These warnings were current at 1pm on Wednesday.

“With the monsoon trough bringing rain and storms to northern Queensland, rainfall is expected to intensify inland,” Ms Bradbury said.

“A flood watch has been extended to include parts of The Gulf and Thomson River catchments further inland and to the northwest.”

A motorist navigates the streets of the Ingham CBD in Hinchinbrook at midday Tuesday. Picture: Cameron Bates

With the monsoon trough remaining stationary over northern Queensland, drawing in tropical moisture from the Coral Sea and The Gulf of Carpentaria experts have said this is expected to bring widespread showers.

“More showers and storms today and in the coming days, with the possibility some of these storms could turn severe at times,” Ms Bradbury said.

A key area to watch is the northeast coast, where there’s a greater potential for more localised heavy falls.

“If we see severe storms developing, as we did on Tuesday, they bring the risk of acute localised heavy falls,” she said.

“Severe thunderstorm warnings will be issued if this occurs.”

Originally published as Cairns weather: Flood warnings for Georgetown as monsoon trough brings more heavy rain