Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 12:52 pm EST on Thursday 1 February 2024

Flood Watch Number: 1

MINOR TO MAJOR FLOODING POSSIBLE ACROSS THE FLOOD WATCH AREA INTO THE WEEKEND AND NEXT WEEK

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is moving slowly northwards over far northwestern Queensland with further heavy rain and associated flooding. The low is likely to move slowly north over the Gulf Country over the coming days. During the weekend it may begin to move south over inland western Queensland.

Catchments within the Flood Watch area are relatively wet and continuing to wet up with rainfall over the past week.

A Severe Weather Warning for heavy to locally intense rainfall is current for parts of the Flood Watch area. Rainfall around the Gulf Country is expected to peak during Friday, with significant rainfall totals likely. The most significant rainfall totals are expected to follow the movement of the low, and may extend southward into the weekend.

River level rises are occurring or likely to occur across parts of the Flood Watch area during this week. Minor to major flooding is possible from late in the week into the weekend and next week as floodwaters extend slowly through these large catchments.

Localised flooding, including flash flooding, is likely. Flooding is likely to result in disruption to transport routes and isolation of some communities.

Catchments likely to be affected include:
Settlement Creek

Nicholson River

Leichhardt River

Norman River
(Rainfall risk for coastal areas in lower catchment)

Gilbert River
(Rainfall risk for coastal areas in lower catchment)

Flood Warnings are current for the following catchments bordering or near the Flood Watch area: Flinders River, Cloncurry River.The following catchments have been removed from the Flood Watch as Flood Warnings are now current for these catchments: Georgina River and Eyre Creek.

See www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings to view the current flood warnings for Queensland.

For more information on the Flood Watch Service: http://www.bom.gov.au/water/floods/floodWarningServices.shtml
Flood Safety Advice:

This Flood Watch means that people living or working along rivers and creeks should monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings.

Remember: If it's flooded, forget it.

For flood emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

For life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Current emergency information is available at www.qld.gov.au/alerts.

This advice is also available by dialling 1300 659 219 at a low call cost of 27.5 cents, more from mobile, public and satellite phones.

Warning, rainfall and river information are available at www.bom.gov.au/qld/flood/

Rainfall and River Conditions Map