Queensland on cyclone watch as rain drenches parts of state
Floodwaters have isolated the Channel Country town of Bedourie in the far-south-western corner of Queensland. (Supplied: Valeri Fernandez)
In short:
Parts of western Queensland face the prospect of being cut off for weeks by slow-moving floodwaters.
Meanwhile, the state's north can expect heavy rainfall and a possible cyclone later in the week.
What's next:
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli says resources are being "pre-positioned" in response to the weather events.
Parts of north Queensland have been drenched by more than 200 millimetres of rain in less than 24 hours, even as rainfall has eased in flood-hit parts to the west.
Abergowrie Bridge, north of Townsville, had some of the state's highest rainfall over the past day, with 231mm falling between 9am on Sunday and 6am on Monday.
Nearby Poverty Hill had 107mm, Trebonne had 120mm, Cardwell Gap had 130mm, Gairloch had 136mm, and Euramo, outside Tully, had 195mm.
The coastline is facing more wet days, with a forecast that a further 350mm could fall on the area before the weekend.
Innisfail is facing up to 110mm of rain in some areas on Monday, with the potential of 90mm falling every day until Friday in the wettest scenarios forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).
To the south, outside Mackay, Eungella had 133mm, with multiple areas in the Pioneer Valley recording more than 100mm through Sunday and into the new week.
A flood warning was issued for the Pioneer River catchment following the "moderate to heavy rainfall" and it remained in place on Monday morning.
All eyes on floodwaters out west
Parts of far-western Queensland will be on flood watch for several weeks even though widespread, heavy rainfall has eased across the interior.
Senior meteorologist Felim Hanniffy said the Georgina-Eyre Creek catchments could expect to see significant rises in the coming days.
"It's too early to call exactly what peak heights we'll see in those rivers, but we are looking at a protracted major flood event lingering for several weeks," he said.
"Many of these rivers will probably remain in some kind of flood until the middle of this year at least."
All roads in the Diamintina Shire have been cut off by floodwaters. (Supplied: Valeri Fernandez)
Mr Hanniffy said it was difficult to predict when and where parts of the Channel Country, including the towns of Bedourie and Birdsville, would see the worst of the flooding, given the expansive body of water and area affected.
"The flatness of the land means that water spreads out over a big area and then takes a long time to move downstream," Mr Hanniffy said.
"It's very hard, until you see those levels rising, to get a handle on peak predictions for these river systems."
Prolonged isolation 'likely'
Diamantina Shire Council has begun flood preparations and is anticipating a prolonged period of isolation — all roads within the shire are currently closed.
A spokesperson for the council said it was working closely with the state government and local grocery suppliers to manage the resupply of essential food and critical supplies.
The Eyre Creek bridge crossing, just south of Bedourie, is cut-off by flood waters. (Supplied: Valeri Fernandez)
Additional police resources, including swift water rescue crews, have been stationed at Mount Isa in readiness.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the region faced "genuinely challenging times ahead".
"Resupply will be an issue into places like Bedourie and that's why we've taken the time to make sure those infrastructure assets have been pre-positioned," he said.
"In the days ahead, there will be the need for more fuel and things like medical supplies and, in time, perhaps more food … so we're preparing for that."
Moderate chance of cyclone in far north
The BOM is forecasting wet conditions across northern Queensland, with an active monsoon trough strengthening early in the week.
Two tropical lows, one forming in the Gulf of Carpentaria and another in the Coral Sea, are also expected to bring heavy rains.
Two lows, one in the Gulf of Carpentaria and another in the Coral Sea, are expected to bring heavy rain across north Queensland later in the week. (Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology)
Mr Hanniffy said the latter system had a 25 per cent chance of forming into a cyclone by Friday as it moved towards the Queensland coast.
"Regardless of whether that system develops into a tropical cyclone, the watch point will be the fact that it could bring further heavy rainfall to areas that are already saturated," he said
"That increases the risk of both riverine and flash flooding for these areas."
Heavy falls are expected between Ingham and Cooktown, with a broader watch on areas from Mackay to Cape York Peninsula, depending on how the lows develop.
Herbert River major flood warning
Residents in Halifax, north-east of Ingham, are on alert with a major flood warning for the Herbert River in place.
The river hit moderate flooding levels this morning following heavy overnight rainfalls across the Hinchinbrook shire, and is expected to continue rising into the afternooon.
Floodwater has already cut access to the town of 500 people via the Halifax Washway, which closed this morning, but access from the Anabranch Bridge over the Herbert River may be closed later in the afternoon.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a major flood warning for the Herbert River, with residents at Halifax, north-east of Ingham, on alert as the Anabranch Bridge may close. (Supplied: Hinchinbrook Shire Council)
Mayor Ramon Jayo said residents are accustomed to flooding and no residential properties are likely to be affected.
"You've just got to keep a watchful eye as to what the river levels are doing," he said.
"We do expect that at some stage late this afternoon they will plateau if the heavy rainfall ceases, but who knows, it can turn around and start pouring rain again."
The Bruce Highway closed to one lane at the Seymour River bridge, north of Ingham, earlier in the morning.
"They will keep that open as long as they possibly can," Cr Jayo said.
"There's still a lot of surface water about the roads everywhere, drive in a matter to expect water."