Initial Minor Flood Warning Issued for Cape River at Taemas and Burdekin Falls Dam

Alert Details

An Initial Minor Flood Warning (IDQ20745) has been issued by the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology for the Cape River. The warning was issued at 7:16 pm AEST on Monday, February 16, 2026, following significant rainfall over the preceding weekend.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers the Cape River at Taemas and the region from Cape River to Burdekin Falls Dam in Queensland. River height observations indicate rising levels at several locations, including Taemas, Sellheim, Dalbeg, and Clare.

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 dangerous.
• Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and other waterways.
• Obey all road closure signs and plan travel routes to avoid flooded roads.
• Monitor the ABC and local media for further updates.
• For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.
• Visit www.disaster.qld.gov.au/warnings for local emergency management advice.

Expected Conditions

Moderate to heavy rainfall recorded on Friday and over the weekend has resulted in river level rises. At 6:40 pm Monday, the Cape River at Taemas was recorded at 4.61 meters and rising. It is forecast to exceed the minor flood level of 5.00 meters overnight Monday into Tuesday. Further showers and thunderstorms are forecast across the catchment throughout the week, which may lead to additional river level rises.

Timeline

The alert is effective as of Monday evening, February 16, 2026. Minor flooding is expected to develop at Taemas overnight Monday and continue into Tuesday. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 10:00 am AEST on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.