A severe weather warning has been issued for parts of Queensland, including the Herbert and Lower Burdekin Coast, as residents brace for yet another deluge following a week of heavy rains that devastated many towns. Weather forecasts indicate that some areas could see rainfall totals reaching 240mm, raising concerns among locals who are still recovering from previous flooding incidents.
North Queensland communities such as Townsville, Palm Island, Ayr, Giru, Lucinda, and Ingham are at risk, having already faced significant water damage.
Ingham, for instance, is particularly anxious as the region was hit hard in February 2025, resulting in two fatalities when floodwaters overwhelmed the area after the Herbert River broke a record dating back to 1967. Local mayor Ramon Jayo emphasized that residents remain on edge, saying, "There's still a lot of trauma." As the latest rainfall adds pressure on recovery efforts, residents and authorities are now preparing for further challenges.
In the 24 hours before the severe weather warning was issued, Toolakea received 287mm of rain, Bluewater recorded 284mm, and Townsville itself had 242mm. Given the saturated conditions, the Bureau of Meteorology has placed flood warnings for the Herbert and Bohle Rivers, indicating potential further rises in water levels.
Heavy rain was expected to ease briefly across the Herbert and Lower Burdekin on Wednesday afternoon (March 19), only to resume on Thursday. Meteorologist Miriam Bradbury cautioned that while the intense downpours would clear up by Friday, persistent showers could linger through the weekend, complicating existing recovery operations.
February was a record-breaking month for rainfall in certain areas, especially for Paluma, located near Townsville, which recorded over two meters of rain. The massive volume of rainfall from past storms had rendered many roads impassable, including crucial routes like the Bruce Highway, which has been cut between Cardwell and Ingham due to water over the road. Emergency services have been deployed to assist in rescue operations, especially for those attempting to drive in flooded areas.
Ingham has made headlines following a substantial weather event last month that fostered immense damage. Mayor Jayo said, "There is no expectation, based on the current forecast, for any houses or properties to be inundated at all." This comment underlined a cautious hope that the forthcoming weather may not cause as much harm as previous events.
This weather system has drawn widespread media attention due to the city's effort to rebuild infrastructure post-flooding. Local recoveries are currently underway after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred drenched southeast Queensland, an event which left more than 1,600 properties reporting damage.
During the exposure of the cyclone, areas like Hervey Bay were inundated with about 400mm of rain in just hours, leading to significant calls for federal assistance. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently noted that "more than $46 million of federal financial assistance has already been accessed in the wake of Alfred" while commending the resilience demonstrated by the affected communities. "At the worst of times, we always see the best of the Australian character," he reiterated, encapsulating the spirit of resilient community action amidst crisis.
Officials from the Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) have affirmed that preparations are in place to manage expected flooding. Daryl Camp, Northern Region SES director, indicated that responses would be ready should areas face significant risks. "Most of the flood warnings are for moderate flood levels," he explained, emphasizing the committee's preparedness for possible evacuation requests should conditions worsen.
Ultimately, as the relentless rains unfold over the next few days, residents in the North Queensland region are being urged to remain vigilant and prepared. With so many homes still bearing the scars of earlier storms, the pressure on local communities to adapt to these weather updates continues to grow.
The importance of community resilience and support in challenging times cannot be overstated, as towns like Ingham and Townsville gear up for what could be another trying chapter in their histories.
