Australia

600mm Rainfall Forecast as ‘Extreme’ Monsoon Trough Moves In

1:15 am - December 29, 2025
Australia

A monsoon trough could bring up to 600mm of rainfall and storms across large parts of Queensland.

BRISBANE : The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued a dire warning for large swathes of Queensland as a strengthening monsoon trough prepares to dump “extreme” volumes of rain, with totals expected to exceed 600mm by mid-week.

A low-pressure system within the trough is gaining strength as it migrates from the northwest toward the southeast. Residents between Cairns and Townsville are facing an immediate threat of flash flooding, with up to 260mm of rain forecast to fall within the next 24 hours. Cardwell Gap has already recorded 217mm, currently holding the title of the wettest location in Australia.

Major Flooding Underway

Major flood levels have already been reached at the Gregory River in the state’s northwest. Flood warnings are currently active for the following catchments:

Nicholson

Leichhardt

Norman

Gilbert

Diamantina

Forecast Trajectory

The Gregory River in northwest Queensland is already at major flood levels.

The system is set to batter a massive geographic area, including:

Cairns, Innisfail, Tully, and Ingham.

Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Burketown, Mornington Island, Normanton, and Croydon.

Senior Meteorologist Jonathan How warned that four-day totals could breach 700mm in some areas, and the rain is not expected to cease once the trough reaches the eastern coast. Residents are urged to monitor BoM updates and avoid all non-essential travel.