Out here in the bush, you learn to read the sky. Right now, most of Queensland is staring at one hell of a mess. A tropical low that hammered far north Queensland last week is slowly grinding its way south, and what it leaves behind is not pretty.
Most of Queensland is on alert for flooding as a tropical low that's already hammered the far north continues a slow crawl through the state's southeast. The system is bringing the kind of rain that makes people nervous.Six-hourly rainfall totals between 70 and 120 millimetres are likely, with isolated totals around 180 millimetres possible, and 24-hourly totals between 80 and 140 millimetres are likely, with isolated totals around 250 millimetres possible.
There have been widespread totals of 90 to 100 millimetres, with higher local falls recorded in areas including Brovinia in the Burnett, which received 239 millimetres.
The real impact is on the ground. Emergency services have been run off their feet. According to 9News,more than 30 roads have been closed on the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane. Inland, the Burnett Highway is shut at Booubyjan, and roads across the South Burnett are impassable. The SES fielded more than 100 calls for assistance as people found themselves in trouble they didn't see coming.
Locations which may be affected include Maroochydore, Gympie, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Emerald, Longreach, Rockhampton, Clermont and Kingaroy. Up in the central highlands, the situation got serious enough thatthe upcoming rain will be falling onto extremely saturated soil and swollen rivers through the state.
Rubyvale, in the central highlands, faced an immediate threat. The Central Highlands Regional Council issued an emergency alert this morning urging people near Policemans Creek to move to higher ground immediately. That's the kind of warning you don't ignore. Talk to anyone who's been through a flash flood and they'll tell you the same thing: the water comes faster than you'd think.
Further rises to moderate flood levels are possible at Miva and Tiaro from Monday morning, and at Dagun Pocket and Gympie from Monday afternoon. That means farmers, small business owners, and families in those towns are already preparing for the worst.
Brisbane hasn't escaped the worry.Brisbane is also on flood alert, with a severe weather warning in place for heavy rainfall in the Capricornia, Central Highlands, Wide Bay, Darling Downs and southeast coast districts. City folk might not realise, but the impacts ripple outward. Road closures mean goods don't move. Isolated communities can't access supplies. Schools close. Work stops.
The system is expected to ease tomorrow as the low moves offshore. But between now and then, this is going to test the resilience of communities already worn down by weather chaos. This isn't abstract climate talk. It's real people wondering if the creek will flood the paddock, if the shop will lose stock, if they'll be able to get to work. For some, it's wondering whether home will still be standing when the water goes down.
Check the Bureau of Meteorology's Queensland flood information for updates, and follow your local council's emergency warnings. If it's flooded, don't cross. That's not just safety advice. It's the difference between a bad day and a tragedy.