Overview
- The Western River at Winton has reached major flood level, prompting an Avoid the Area warning, road closures in all directions, and voluntary evacuations from low‑lying streets.
- The Flinders River at Richmond is expected to remain above 8 metres into Monday, with downstream locations such as Walkers Bend forecast to keep rising well into the week.
- Producers near Richmond report inundated paddocks and cattle being moved by helicopter, with local officials warning of significant stock losses.
- State and federal authorities have extended a $2 million emergency fodder package to additional shires and opened low‑interest disaster loans for primary producers.
- Heavy rain is shifting toward the north tropical coast after around 240mm fell near Townsville, and the Bureau of Meteorology is tracking a tropical low with a low‑to‑moderate chance of cyclone development later this week.