Heavy rain has continued to fall in parts of North West and Central Queensland, leaving farmland and some roads have been flooded. Just one week into the month and some areas have already recorded their highest ever rainfall total for March.
Two people were rescued by helicopter from a flooded home near Cloncurry. Local media reported that a mother and baby were rescued via helicopter from their flooded property north of Cloncurry on 05 March, 2018.
River levels are high and Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) have issued numerous flood warnings.
BoM said via Social Media that a Major Flood Warning has been issued for the Flinders River at Walkers Bend south of Normanton.
“This is the longest river in Queensland and warnings are expected for some time as flood waters work their way downstream,” BoM added.
The bureau also said that minor flooding is occurring along the Thomson River between Muttaburra and Camoola Park. Rises are also occurring between Bogewong and Stonehenge.
A Major Flood Warning is in place for the Western River and a Flood Warning for the Diamantina River.
Over 200 mm of rainfall has been recorded over the Western River and upper Diamantina River catchment area in the past 2 days. Further showers and thunderstorms are likely over the next few days.
The Western River at Winton is likely to crest on Tuesday evening with river levels expected to be around similar levels experienced in February 2000.
Record Rainfall
Between 04 and 05 March Winton recorded 101.8 mm of rain in 24 hours, its highest ever daily rainfall total for March. Winton has already recorded 231.6 mm of rain so far this month, its highest total for March. The previous high was 150.2 mm set in 2011.
Likewise Julia Creek broke its March rainfall record with 127.2 mm of rain during the same period. Julia Creek has recorded 235.2 mm of rain so far this month, already its second ever highest amount for March. The highest recorded is 290.8 mm set in 2010.
Social Media
Here's a birds eye view of the #ThomsonRiver in flood at #Longreach. See Warnings for updates: https://t.co/tvAw6HL0Uv. Always follow the advice of local emergency services and remember #ifitsfloodedforgetit. Video courtesy of Queensland Helicopters pic.twitter.com/wcVqEWiNcv
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 6, 2018
⚠️ A Major #Flood Warning has been issued for the #FlindersRiver at Walkers Bend south of #Normanton. This is the longest river in #Qld and warnings are expected for some time as flood waters work their way downstream. See https://t.co/tvAw6HL0Uv for updates @McKinlayShire pic.twitter.com/dQw5ygRy4i
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 6, 2018
To say this rain was welcomed by locals in #Winton, Central West QLD, is an understatement, but for our Brisbane paramedics deployed to the region as additional support in flood affect areas, they were simply 'wowed' by some of these sights. Remember, if its flooded – forget it! pic.twitter.com/V2npvQPPrC
— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) March 6, 2018
South East Queensland
Heavy rain in south east Queensland between 05 and 06 March 2018 left roads flooded in the Moreton Bay area. Lake Kurwongbah recorded 117 mm, and the Brisbane CBD 59 mm in 24 hours.
Last week Queensland Fire and Rescue crews were called on to carry out 11 flood water rescues between 26 and 27 February after a thunderstorm brought torrential rain to the greater Brisbane area.
The Fire and Emergency Services Minister in Queensland said drivers were ignoring the flood warnings and “unnecessarily exposing themselves to risk” in unpredictable flash-flooding.
