Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Heavy Rainfall in North West Queensland and Northern Goldfields

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning (IDQ21033) for heavy rainfall. This is a top priority alert for immediate broadcast, classified with a high severity level.

Affected Areas

The warning covers parts of the following forecast districts:

• Gulf Country
• North West
• Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders

Specific locations that may be affected include Cloney’s Creek.

What You Should Do

Emergency services advise residents in the warning area to take the following precautions:

• Seek Shelter: Go inside a strong building immediately and stay inside until the storm has passed.
• Secure Property: Park your car undercover and away from trees. Close all doors and windows.
• Health Precautions: Keep asthma medications close by, as storms and wind can trigger asthma attacks.
• Prepare for Outages: Charge mobile phones and power banks in case of power failure.
• Protect Pets: Put pets in a safe place and ensure they have identification.
• Travel Safety: Do not drive unless absolutely necessary, as road conditions are dangerous.
• Communication: Inform friends, family, and neighbors in the affected area.

Expected Conditions

Rich tropical moisture is currently feeding into a low pressure trough, resulting in the development of slow-moving clusters of thunderstorms. These storms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding within the warning area over the next several hours.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 2:23 pm Saturday, 21 February 2026. The situation is expected to persist for several hours. The Bureau of Meteorology is scheduled to issue the next update by 5:25 pm.