Weather Update: Flooding around Townsville, Queensland, 4 February 2019

04/02/2019

Good morning again from the Bureau. The risk to life and property continues around the Townsville region, as we're seeing unprecedented flooding continue on the Ross River.

Last night the spillway gates at Ross River Dam were fully opened; and we've seen high-velocity flows continue into the river overnight and this morning.

The rainfall around Townsville has temporarily eased this morning, but we're expecting further rainfall today.

Since 9 am yesterday, the heaviest rainfall totals have again been around the Townsville region, where we've seen up to around 400 mm in the 23 h to 8 am this morning—with 402 mm at Woodlands the highest.

Around the Townsville suburbs elsewhere we've seen 268 mm at Annandale and 222 mm at South Townsville.

The Severe Weather Warning this morning, as we have issued, covers that coastal stretch from Ingham down to Bowen and also down to Mackay—where we may see the rainfall extend later.

We've also got the potential for some damaging to destructive wind gusts with intense thunderstorms that may develop—with wind gusts potentially above 125 km/h.

We also see that Severe Weather Warning extends inland towards Julia Creek and Cloncurry, where we may see heavy rain continue around the tropical low that's out there.

Out there, 75–120 mm in 6 h may be seen, but the heaviest rain will continue to be back along that coastal stretch, where we may see 6-hour totals in the 150–200 mm range and daily rainfall of up to around 300 mm.

Where we're likely to see that heavier rainfall is indeed that stretch between Ingham and Bowen, and potentially extending down towards Mackay today.

So as the rainfall continues today and extends into this week, please stay up to date with all the latest warnings and forecasts on the Bureau's website, app and on social media; and please follow all advice from Queensland emergency services.