Flood Watch Issued for North Queensland and Cape York Peninsula as Tropical Lows Approach

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Flood Watch (IDQ20900) for the North Tropical Coast and parts of the Cape York Peninsula, Central Coast, Capricornia, and Carpentaria catchments. This alert serves as early advice for possible flooding within specified catchments as weather conditions deteriorate.

Affected Areas

A wide range of catchments are included in this watch, specifically:

• Cape York Peninsula & Gulf: Normanby, Endeavour, Settlement Creek, Staaten, Mitchell (moderate flooding already occurring in Magnificent Creek), Coleman and Edward, Holroyd and Kendall, Archer and Coen, Watson, Embley and Mission, Wenlock, Ducie, Jackson and Skardon, and Jardine Rivers.
• North Tropical Coast: Daintree (including Bloomfield), Mossman, Barron, Mulgrave and Russell, Johnstone, Tully, Murray, and Herbert Rivers.
• Central Coast & Capricornia: Black, Ross and Bohle, Haughton, Don and Proserpine, Pioneer, Connors, Isaac and Styx Rivers, and Plane Creek.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are urged to take the following safety precautions:

• Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater as it is extremely dangerous.
• Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways.
• Obey all road closure signs and plan travel ahead to avoid flooded routes.
• Monitor local media and the ABC for updates.
• For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening situations, call 000 immediately.

Expected Conditions

A monsoon trough currently lies over the southern Cape York Peninsula and is expected to linger throughout the week. Two tropical lows are influencing the region: Tropical Low 29U, which is moving southwest from the Coral Sea and is expected to cross the North Queensland coast on Friday, and Tropical Low 31U, which is slow-moving in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria.

Because catchments are already wet or saturated from recent rainfall, further moderate to heavy falls may result in rapid river level rises. Disruption to transport routes is considered likely across the watch area.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 12:46 pm AEST on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. River level rises and flooding are possible starting Thursday, March 5. The risk of heavy falls will increase from Thursday into the weekend, depending on the movement of the low-pressure systems. The next update from the BOM is expected by 1:00 PM AEST on Thursday.