Initial Flood Warning Issued for Nicholson and Leichhardt Rivers in Queensland

Alert Details

An Initial Flood Warning (IDQ20876) has been issued by the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) for the Nicholson and Leichhardt Rivers. The warning was issued at 3:17 pm AEST on Monday, February 23, 2026, following widespread heavy rainfall over the past week.

Affected Areas

The alert covers the Nicholson and Leichhardt catchments in Queensland. Specific areas of concern include:

• Gregory River: Minor flooding is occurring at Gregory Downs.
• Leichhardt River: Minor flooding is occurring at Floraville and is expected at Lorraine.
• Albert River: Potential river level rises are expected at Burketown Airstrip over the next few days.

What You Should Do

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

• Do not 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 ahead to avoid driving on flooded roads.
• Monitor the ABC and local media for updates.
• For local emergency management warnings, visit www.disaster.qld.gov.au/warnings.
• For emergency assistance, call the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.

Expected Conditions

Widespread heavy rainfall has resulted in significant river and creek level rises. Current observations include:

• Gregory River at Gregory Downs: 7.20 m and rising (as of 1:10 pm Monday).
• Leichhardt River at Lorraine: 9.90 m and steady (as of 12:30 pm Monday).
• Leichhardt River at Floraville: 5.00 m and steady (as of 1:00 pm Monday).
• Gregory River at Riversleigh: 3.05 m and steady.

Timeline

The warning is effective as of Monday, February 23, 2026. River levels at Burketown Airstrip may continue to rise over the next few days. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 3:00 PM AEST on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.