Queenslanders Told to Seek Higher Ground Amid Flash Flood Threat

If you’re in parts of Queensland right now, especially the north and central west, you might want to start keeping a close eye on the sky—and your local alerts.

A severe weather warning is in place, with heavy rain expected to hit areas like the Channel Country, Maranoa and Warrego regions, the Northern Goldfields, and Upper Flinders. The Bureau of Meteorology is warning that flash flooding is likely, so people in low-lying areas are being told to move to higher ground just to be safe.

Who's in the warning zone?

Residents in Charleville, Cunnamulla, Quilpie, Tambo, Blackall, and Carnarvon National Park are in the firing line right now. The Bureau says you can expect around 30 to 60mm of rain in just six hours, with some areas possibly copping up to 120mm. And over 24 hours, that could rise to a whopping 180mm in some spots.

The cause? A low-pressure system mixing with a very moist tropical air mass—basically a perfect storm for heavy downpours.

They’re also saying we might see severe thunderstorms later today or overnight, with "intense rainfall" possible. So yep, more warnings could pop up at short notice. And several flood watches are already out for catchments in western and central Queensland.

More rain on the way

According to meteorologist Helen Reid, this rain isn't going anywhere just yet. Expect widespread rain to hang around for the next few days, especially from the Queensland central coast down to the NSW border.

The heaviest falls are expected on Friday and Saturday, with some coastal areas forecast to get between 100mm and 200mm. And since a lot of ground is already saturated, that could mean more flash and river flooding—particularly in north-east NSW and south-east Queensland.

In Brisbane, residents in flood-prone zones are being asked to prepare now. Sandbags are available for pickup at these council depots: Darra, Morningside, Newmarket, Zillmere, and Lota.

The Bureau expects heavy rain to continue through the weekend, with up to 70mm predicted for Saturday alone.

Stay safe, and don’t forget to check local alerts and weather updates regularly.