Flood Warning Issued for Gilbert and Norman Rivers; Minor Flooding at Normanton to Continue

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Minor Flood Warning for the Norman River and a Flood Warning for the Gilbert River (IDQ20879). The warning was issued at 3:16 pm AEST on Saturday, March 7, 2026, following heavy rainfall across the catchments that has resulted in elevated river levels.

Affected Areas

The alert covers the Norman and Gilbert River catchments in Queensland. Specific locations experiencing flooding or elevated levels include:

• Normanton: Minor flooding occurring and rising.
• Lower Walker Creek: Moderate flooding at the Burke Development Road, where water is currently above the level of the bridge deck.
• Norman River: Minor flooding at Glenore Weir and Guildford; moderate flooding at Yappar River and Burke Development Road.
• Gilbert River Catchment: Elevated levels and minor flooding at Rockfields, Einasleigh River, and Etheridge River.

What You Should Do

Residents are advised not to drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater as it is dangerous. Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways. Obey all road closure signs and plan travel ahead to avoid driving on flooded roads. For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening situations, call 000 immediately. Monitor the ABC and local media for updates and visit www.disaster.qld.gov.au/warnings for local advice.

Expected Conditions

The Norman River at Normanton is currently measured at 3.11 meters and rising. It is forecast to reach approximately 3.30 meters during Sunday, remaining above the minor flood level of 2.00 meters. Moderate flooding is currently impacting the bridge deck at Burke Development Road on Lower Walker Creek. Further rainfall is forecast for the weekend and into next week, which may cause additional river level rises.

Timeline

The warning is effective as of Saturday afternoon. Minor flooding at Normanton is expected to continue through the weekend and into next week. The next official update from the Bureau of Meteorology is scheduled to be issued by 4:00 PM AEST on Monday, March 9, 2026.