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North Queensland Faces Weeks of Flooding as Fresh Coastal Downpours Raise Flash-Flood Risk

Authorities warn river peaks will persist for weeks across the Flinders and Gulf catchments.

Overview

  • Severe weather warnings remain for the Townsville–Bowen coastal strip with six‑hourly totals of 80–150mm and isolated falls above 200mm, raising a significant flash‑flood threat.
  • Major flooding continues on the Flinders River, with levels around 11 metres at key gauges and Walkers Bend forecast to stay above the major threshold well into next week.
  • Multiple Gulf and north‑west communities are cut off as dozens of highways and local roads remain closed, leaving travellers stranded and limiting access to services.
  • Emergency crews report ongoing rescues, including seven people retrieved at Lannercost and a father and daughter near Boulia, after a man in his 70s was found dead in a submerged vehicle at Normanton.
  • Graziers are using helicopters to move cattle and drop fodder as assessments continue, with additional hazards reported in floodwaters including large saltwater crocodiles.