Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 11:56 am EST on Tuesday 16 January 2024

Flood Watch Number: 4

RIVER LEVEL RISES OCCURRING, FLOODING POSSIBLE ACROSS CAPE YORK PENINSULA AND PARTS OF GULF OF CARPENTARIA FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS

A monsoon trough extends across the Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York Peninsula, and the western Coral Sea and will persist for several days.

Moderate to locally heavy rainfall has been observed across the Flood Watch area over the last few days. In the 24 hours to 9 am Tuesday, several locations recorded between 50 to 160 mm of rainfall, following high totals in the last few days. Catchments are wet and rivers will respond relatively quickly to further rainfall.

Showers and thunderstorms with locally heavy falls are likely to continue during Tuesday and Wednesday.

Abnormally high tides are also forecast to develop along the Gulf of Carpentaria coast and through the Torres Strait for several days with sea levels potentially exceeding the highest tide of the year.

River level rises are likely to continue and riverine flooding is possible within the Flood Watch area for the next few days, particularly across western parts of the Peninsula Forecast District, as well as in isolated catchments in Eastern Cape York Peninsula and parts of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Impacts to transport routes have been observed within the Flood Watch area. Further localised flooding, isolation of communities and disruption to transport routes are possible within the Flood Watch area over the next few days.

Flood warnings are current for the following catchments: Tully and Murray Rivers; Herbert River; Paroo River; Barcoo River; Bulloo River and Diamantina River

Catchments likely to be affected include:

Norman 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
Staaten River
Normanby River

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