Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 12:07 pm AEST on Wednesday 4 February 2026

Flood Watch Number: 16

RIVER LEVEL RISES AND FLOODING OCCURRING ACROSS PARTS OF THE CAPE YORK PENINSULA

Further showers and thunderstorms may develop across parts of the Cape York Peninsula during Wednesday and Thursday.

Catchments across the Flood Watch area remain wet to saturated with areas of flooding already occurring following recent rainfall. Further rainfall may result in rapid river level rises and flooding across the Flood Watch area over the next few days.

Catchments likely to be affected include:
Staaten River

Mitchell River
(Minor flooding is occurring along Magnificent Creek at Kowanyama)

Flood warnings are current for the following catchment(s) : Lower Flinders, Norman, Gilbert, Eyre, Diamantina, Thomson, Cooper, Don and Pioneer.

For the latest flood and weather warnings see www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts

For the latest rainfall and river level information see www.bom.gov.au/australia/flood
Safety Advice:

Don't drive, walk, swim or play in floodwater because it is dangerous.
Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams and waterways.
Obey road closure signs. Plan ahead so you don't drive on flooded roads.
Check the ABC and local media for updates. The situation can change quickly, so stay informed.
For local emergency management warnings and advice visit www.disaster.qld.gov.au/warnings.

For emergency assistance call SES on telephone number 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 (triple zero) immediately.

Rainfall and River Conditions Map