Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 12:28 pm EST on Tuesday 19 March 2024

Flood Watch Number: 8

FLOODING OVER NORTH TROPICAL COAST CATCHMENTS MAY BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS

RENEWED FLOODING LIKELY OVER PARTS OF THE GULF COUNTRY FROM TUESDAY

ELEVATED RIVER LEVELS CONTINUING ACROSS THE CAPE YORK PENINSULA

The monsoon trough extends across the Gulf of Carpentaria and central Cape York Peninsula. The trough will persist for several days, enhancing rainfall over parts of North and Far North Queensland. The trough may start to shift further north from mid to late this week. Elsewhere, Ex-Tropical Cyclone Megan will continue to drift westward and is expected to continue to move away from the Northern Territory and Queensland border.

Catchments within the Flood Watch area are relatively wet. Many rivers and creeks are elevated following recent rainfall and are expected to respond quickly to the forecast heavy rainfall.

Abnormally high tides are expected along the Gulf Coast this week.

Localised heavy falls with thunderstorm activity and moderate widespread rainfall are forecast for parts of the Cape York Peninsula, Gulf of Carpentaria, and the North Tropical Coast over the next few days.

The heaviest rainfall is forecast to occur over the North Tropical Coast and coastal areas within the north western Gulf of Carpentaria catchments.

Elevated river levels are likely to continue during this week across Cape York Peninsula catchments. Elsewhere within the Flood Watch area, river level rises and minor riverine flooding are likely, with isolated moderate flooding possible.

Localised flooding, isolation of communities and disruption to transport routes are possible within the Flood Watch area over the next few days.

Catchments likely to be affected include:
Settlement Creek

Nicholson River

Leichhardt River

Lower Flinders River

Cloncurry River

Gilbert River

Jardine River

Ducie, Jackson and Skardon Rivers

Wenlock River

Embley and Mission Rivers

Watson River

Archer and Coen Rivers

Holroyd and Kendall Rivers

Coleman and Edward Rivers

Mitchell River
(Including Magnificent Creek - Kowanyama)

Staaten River

Jacky Jacky Creek

Olive and Pascoe Rivers

Lockhart River

Stewart River

Normanby River
(Including the Laura River)

Jeannie River

Endeavour River
(Including the Annan River)

Barron River

Johnstone River

Herbert River

Flood warnings are current for the Daintree, Mossman, Tully, Mulgrave and Russell Rivers on the North Tropical Coast. A flood warning is also current for the Norman River within the Gulf of Carpentaria catchments.

See www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings to view the current flood, weather and cyclone products 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