Sydney, March 6 – Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe flood warning for Queensland’s northeastern coast as a tropical low-pressure system barrels toward the region. Heavy rainfall is expected to unleash dangerous and potentially life-threatening floods starting Friday morning.
The storm system is advancing rapidly, poised to drench a 350-kilometer stretch of tropical far north Queensland coastline. Forecasters predict locally intense downpours, with up to 240mm of rain possible in six hours and 300mm over 24 hours. Coastal cities like Cairns, Port Douglas, and Cooktown – home to around 255,000 residents – lie directly in the path.
“This could lead to flash flooding that endangers lives,” the Bureau cautioned. While the system has a slim 5% chance of intensifying into a tropical cyclone upon landfall near Cardwell, the heaviest rains will hammer areas north toward Cairns.
Recent weather patterns have already battered southeastern states. Just days ago on March 2, emergency alerts blanketed Victoria and New South Wales amid deadly flood risks. Severe weather warnings highlighted intense rain across a 650km zone from central Victoria’s Seymour to Broken Hill, with 100mm possible in six hours.
State emergency services urged residents: avoid driving through floodwaters and steer clear of waterways. Flood watches revealed over 20 reservoirs at risk from the deluge. As Queensland braces, authorities are mobilizing resources, evacuations remain on standby, and communities are urged to prepare for the worst. The nation watches as extreme weather tests its resilience once more.