Moderate Flood Warning Issued for Norman River and Normanton in Queensland
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a moderate flood warning for the Norman River at Normanton, with major flooding reported at Lower Walker Creek and Belmore Creek following heavy rain.
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. This update, Warning Number 56, was issued at 2:52 pm AEST on Thursday, March 12, 2026, following recent heavy rainfall over the catchments.
Affected Areas
The warning impacts several geographic regions within Queensland, specifically:
- Norman River Catchment: Moderate flooding is occurring at Normanton, Glenore Weir, and Yappar River.
- Lower Walker Creek: Major flooding is occurring at Burke Development Road, where levels are well above the bridge deck.
- Belmore Creek: Major flooding is reported at Guildford.
- Gilbert River: Elevated river levels and flooding are occurring across the lower Gilbert River catchment.
What You Should Do
Residents are urged to prioritize safety and follow these instructions:
- Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater; it is dangerous.
- Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways.
- Obey all road closure signs and plan travel to avoid flooded routes.
- Monitor the ABC and local media for updates.
- For emergency assistance, call the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.
Expected Conditions
River levels are currently elevated across the catchments. The Norman River at Normanton is at 4.03 meters and steady, which is at the moderate flood level (4.00 m). While some areas like the Etheridge River at Roseglen and the Gilbert River at Burke Development Road are currently falling, the Norman River at Normanton is expected to remain around the moderate flood level through the weekend. Further rises are likely early next week as upstream flows arrive.
Timeline
The alert was issued on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Moderate flood levels at Normanton are expected to persist into the weekend, with additional rises anticipated early next week. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 4:00 PM AEST on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Source: BOM Official Notice