Flood Watch Issued for Most of Queensland: Widespread Minor to Moderate Flooding Possible

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Flood Watch (IDQ20900) for most of Queensland. This alert serves as early advice for possible flooding within specified catchments across the state. Multiple minor to major flood warnings are already current for various regions.

Affected Areas

The Flood Watch covers a vast portion of Queensland, including the North Tropical Coast, Central Coast, Capricornia, Wide Bay, and the southeastern coast. Specific catchments likely to be affected include:

• Northern/Central Rivers: Daintree, Mossman, Barron, Mulgrave, Russell, Johnstone, Murray, Black, Ross, Bohle, Belyando, Suttor, Cape, and Burdekin Rivers.
• Central/Coastal Rivers: Connors, Isaac, Styx, Plane Creek, Comet, Nogoa, Dawson, Don, Mackenzie, Fitzroy, Calliope, Boyne, Kolan, Burnett, Burrum, and Cherwell Rivers.
• Southeastern Rivers: Mary, Noosa, Pine, Caboolture, Sunshine Coast Rivers, Upper Brisbane, Lower Brisbane (Creeks), Logan, Albert, and Gold Coast Rivers.
• Western/Inland Rivers: Macintyre, Weir, Moonie, Condamine, Balonne, The Big Warrambool, Wallam, Mungallala, Warrego, Leichhardt, Cloncurry, Gilbert, Staaten, Mitchell, Diamantina, and Bulloo Rivers.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised to monitor local conditions closely. Disruption to transport routes is likely across parts of the Flood Watch area. For the latest flood and weather warnings, residents should visit the Bureau of Meteorology website at www.bom.gov.au.

Expected Conditions

A broad trough is drawing deep tropical moisture across the state, resulting in forecast moderate to heavy rainfall over the next few days. While catchments in the North Tropical Coast and Central Coast are already saturated, catchments in southeastern and central Queensland are expected to respond quickly to heavy rainfall. Expected impacts include rapid river level rises and localized flooding. Widespread minor to moderate riverine flooding is possible, with isolated major flooding a possibility in areas of heaviest rainfall.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 12:33 pm AEST on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Widespread flooding conditions are possible across the watch area into Sunday, March 8, 2026. The current alert remains effective until the expiry time of 4:33 am UTC on March 8, 2026.