Cyclone looms as dozens rescued, communities cut off, intense rain batters north
Rising floodwaters have cut north Queensland’s main transport corridor, with more rain on the way and fears the low pressure system may develop into a cyclone.
A stranded semi-trailer is dwarfed by the massive floodwaters near Mackay, with the possibility of a cyclone forming from the low pressure system. (ABC photograph).
The Bruce Highway is closed in multiple locations in the state’s north and flood warnings have been issued for a number of river systems across Queensland, with further warnings likely in coming days.
Major flood warnings are current for the Don River and Pioneer River.
Mackay residents have been warned to avoid parking in parts of the CBD with the Pioneer River expected to peak at around 7am on Tuesday.
Daily rainfall totals is some areas could exceed 200mm, with isolated totals up to 400mm possible, forecasters warn.
The Bureau of Meteorology says six-hour rainfall totals of up to 180mm are likely in Mackay, Proserpine, Bowen, Collinsville, Hamilton Island and Ayr.
However, the coast and ranges north of Mackay could be pummelled with between 250mm and 400mm in the next 24 hours.
“Locally intense rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is also possible over far southeastern parts of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin coast and the Central Coast and Whitsundays,” the bureau said in an alert on Monday afternoon.
The forecaster said six-hour totals of up to 150mm are possible in parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields districts as well.
It follows days of wet weather with 24-hour falls of 317mm recorded at Jubilee Pocket, 299mm at Peter Faust Dam, 252mm at Preston, 237mm at Bowen and 230mm at Proserpine.
The weak low pressure system is currently between Townsville and Mackay and has a low chance of forming into a tropical cyclone over today and tomorrow.
The system has drenched Queensland’s central coast for the past three days, and the BOM is warning that intense rainfall and dangerous flash flooding is expected to continue across Mackay and the Whitsundays today.
Whitsundays Mayor Julie Hall said 19 people were rescued south of Proserpine yesterday.
“There were 19 people who were stranded out at Goorganga Plains between floodwaters, who had been there for nearly 24 hours,” she said.
“The floodwaters were on either side of them and they were stuck on a little island on the Bruce Highway.
“Emergency services were watching their welfare but it was decided to do a rescue.
“They were brought into Proserpine late yesterday afternoon.
“We had over 100 people in the PCYC in Bowen last night and we had 44 people in the Proserpine centre.”
Acting Premier Steven Miles says a number of people have been rescued from floodwaters or stranded by road closures, but no lives have been lost.
He urged people to take care.
“If the road’s closed, if it’s flooded, forget it,” Miles told reporters in Maryborough.
Rain and thunderstorms will continue until Wednesday around the central coast of Queensland, while showers and thunderstorms will continue across much of northern Australia and inland Queensland.
Rain and storms may ease later on Wednesday as the trough weakens and moves northwards and offshore.
