North Queensland Braces for Life Threatening Flash Floods

TOWNSVILLE : Residents across North and North-Western Queensland have been placed on high alert as a “lingering” monsoon trough threatens to deliver a year’s worth of rainfall in just a matter of days.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued dire warnings for “heavy to intense” rainfall, with the potential for life-threatening flash flooding in Julia Creek, Cloncurry, and the Mount Isa region.

The scale of the deluge is already breaking records. Mission Beach has recorded its highest-ever 24-hour downpour with a staggering 360mm. Forecasters predict the rain will not let up, with Townsville expected to receive another 140mm today, while Cairns is braced for 100mm.

Meteorologist Shane Kennedy warned that the bulk of the rainfall is still to come. “Around the Mount Isa region, the annual rainfall is typically 400mm to 500mm, and we’re likely to see that over just a week or two,” he said.

The wild weather has already crippled regional infrastructure.

7,000 homes and businesses lost power overnight, primarily in Mount Isa.

37 roads across the state are currently out of action.

Premier David Crisafulli urged residents to stay off the roads and use official disaster websites rather than third-party apps like Google Maps for closures.

The massive downpour is being driven by a slow-moving monsoon trough combined with strong coastal winds. Authorities remain on high alert for record-breaking river heights, particularly along the Flinders River.