Flood Watch for Mackay and the Whitsundays

Here's what you need to know


Article heading image for Flood Watch for Mackay and the Whitsundays

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a flood watch for Queensland coastal catchments from Tully to Gladstone, including Townsville, Mackay, Airlie Beach and Rockhampton. They're expecting a months worth of rain to fall in three days.

The good news is that they're expecting the flood levels to be significantly lower than what we had during Cyclone Debbie.

FROM THE BUREAU
A surface trough has developed in the Coral Sea near the southern tropical coast and is expected to move slowly southwest onto the coast, increasing showers and rain.
Widespread rainfall totals of 100 to 200 mm are forecast to occur across the watch area from Wednesday evening through to Friday evening, with isolated heavier totals up to 400 mm possible.
River level rises above the minor flood level are possible based on forecast rainfall. Heavy rainfall may also lead to localised flash flooding.
Catchments at risk within the Flood Watch area include the Tully, Murray, Herbert, Bohle, Ross, Haughton, Don, Proserpine and Pioneer rivers, and parts of the Burdekin and Fitzroy rivers. For those catchments affected by ex-TC "Debbie" during March and April, flood levels during this event are expected to be significantly lower.

River level rises above the minor flood level are possible based on forecast rainfall.

See www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings to view the current flood warnings for Queensland.

This Flood Watch means that people living or working along rivers and creeks should monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings and be ready to move to higher ground should flooding develop.

See www.bom.gov.au/qld/flood/brochures/flood_watch/ for further information about Flood Watch.

Remember: If it's flooded, forget it.
For flood emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.
For life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
Current emergency information is available at www.qld.gov.au/alerts

17 May 2017




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