Moderate Flood Warning Issued for Norman River and Gilbert River in Queensland

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Moderate Flood Warning for the Norman River and a Flood Warning for the Gilbert River (IDQ20879). This is the 53rd warning issued for this event, following recent heavy rainfall across the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the Norman and Gilbert River catchments in Queensland. Specific areas of concern include:

• Normanton: Moderate flooding is expected.
• Lower Walker Creek: Major flooding is occurring at the Burke Development Road.
• Norman River Locations: Minor flooding at Glenore Weir, moderate flooding at Yappar River, and major flooding at Guildford and Burke Development Road.
• Gilbert River Catchment: Elevated river levels and flooding are occurring across the catchment, including Rockfields and the Burke Development Road.

What You Should Do

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

• Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater, as 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.
• Monitor the ABC and local media for updates.
• For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening situations, call 000 (triple zero) immediately.
• Visit www.disaster.qld.gov.au/warnings for local emergency management advice.

Expected Conditions

• Norman River at Normanton: Currently at 3.73 meters and rising. It is likely to exceed the moderate flood level of 4.00 meters overnight Monday into Tuesday. The river may reach 4.20 meters by Tuesday afternoon.
• Lower Walker Creek: Currently above the level of the bridge deck at Burke Development Road, though levels are currently falling.
• Rainfall: Further rainfall is forecast for the next few days, which may lead to additional river level rises beyond current predictions.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 2:52 PM AEST on Monday, March 9, 2026. Moderate flooding is expected to begin at Normanton overnight Monday and continue through Tuesday, March 10. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next warning update by 4:00 PM AEST on Tuesday.