Intense flooding continues to wreak havoc in parts of Queensland, with authorities forecasting the peak of the deluge to hit Townsville, the north’s most populated city, on Tuesday morning.
Over the past week, Townsville has been drenched with more than 600mm of rain, prompting concerns in six suburbs designated as “black zones,” which are at significant risk of life-threatening flooding.
The Bureau of Meteorology has indicated that while the weather system is expected to start easing from Tuesday, further rainfall of up to 500mm could still affect northern regions. “Heavy to locally intense rainfall is anticipated to persist, particularly between Tully and Giru, with expected totals ranging from 150-300mm,” they warned.
As Queensland’s largest regional city outside the southeast, Townsville is home to nearly 200,000 residents. Meanwhile, the nearby town of Rollingstone has already received over 1,200mm of rain in the past week. Major flood warnings remain in effect for the Haughton River catchment, Aplin Weir, and several rivers including the Herbert, Upper Burdekin, and Townsville’s Ross River, which is projected to exceed 2 meters overnight.
Residents in the identified black zones—Hermit Park, Railway Estate, Rosslea, Idalia, Oonoonba, and Cluden—have been advised to stay away until authorities issue an all-clear. Mr. Collopy noted that while models indicate a gradual easing of the tropical low near Ingham, the threat of flooding remains significant.
“There is a lot of water in those catchments, already an incredible amount on the ground, and with more rain on the way, it will take days for the water to recede,” he cautioned.
Ingham, located 100 kilometers north of Townsville, is experiencing its worst flooding since 1967, as confirmed by the local mayor. The community is grappling with the aftermath of this unprecedented deluge, as the region braces for what lies ahead.
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