Major Flood Warning Issued for Diamantina River; Birdsville Braces for Possible Major Flooding

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Major Flood Warning (IDQ20865) for the Diamantina River and a Final Flood Warning for the Western River. The alert was issued at 11:47 am AEST on Monday, March 2, 2026, following significant rainfall across the Diamantina catchment over the past several days.

Affected Areas

The warning covers several key locations along the Diamantina and Western River systems in Queensland, including:

• Birdsville: Currently experiencing moderate flooding with major flooding possible.
• Diamantina Lakes: Currently experiencing moderate flooding.
• Roseberth and Monkira: Moderate and minor flooding occurring, respectively.
• Winton: Western River levels are currently steady and below the minor flood level.

Expected Conditions

Significant river rises have been observed due to recent heavy rainfall.

• Birdsville Police Station: The river level is currently at 7.30 meters and rising. It is forecast to potentially reach the major flood level of 8.00 meters later this week as upstream flows arrive.
• Diamantina Lakes: The river is currently at 5.67 meters and rising, which is well above the moderate flood level of 4.00 meters and the Springvale Diamantina Lakes Road Causeway level of 2.10 meters.
• Western River at Winton: The river is steady at 1.10 meters and is expected to remain below the minor flood level of 1.50 meters.
• Other Observations: Roseberth Station was recorded at 5.18 meters (steady) and Monkira at 3.54 meters (steady) as of Monday morning.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the affected regions are advised to take the following precautions:

• Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater. It is dangerous and conditions can change quickly.
• Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways.
• Obey all road closure signs and plan travel to avoid flooded roads.
• Stay informed: Monitor the ABC and local media for updates.
• Emergency Assistance: For flood 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.

Timeline

The warning is effective as of March 2, 2026. Major flooding is anticipated at Birdsville later in the week. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 12:00 PM AEST on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.