Townsville has been declared a disaster zone as all schools are closed and businesses are urged to allow workers to stay home if possible.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has ordered all Townsville schools and childcare centres to close today.
The decision was made after an emergency briefing, giving families as much prior warning as possible.
“We need to ensure everyone’s safety,” she said.
“The bureau’s advice is, if this monsoonal weather continues, the next few days could see more heavy rainfall.
“It is safer if families are not trying to get to and from school.”
Heavy rainfall is picking up again in #Townsville with 52mm recorded in the last hour at the airport. The airport has now had 180mm since 9am. ⚠️ FLASH FLOODING IS LIKELY⚠️ given the saturated ground. Please take care and remember #IfItsFloodedForgetIt. #BigWet
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 31, 2019
The disaster situation declaration gives police wider evacuation powers if needed.
The severe weather is a once in 20 year event.
Ms Palaszczuk said people should take care on the roads, stay home if possible and remember if it’s flooded forget it.
The Queensland Disaster Management Committee will meet at Kedron at 10am on Friday to assess the situation.
Police have urged businesses to consider allowing workers to stay home in a bid to keep people off the roads.
While rainfall rates have eased over the warning area in the past three to six hours, the Bureau warns there remains a high risk of redevelopment of heavy rainfall bands, with the potential to produce flash flooding, over the warning area this evening and during Friday.
“Six-hourly rainfall totals between 150mm to 200mm are likely with this activity, with isolated heavier falls possible, particularly with bands of thunderstorms,” the warning says.
“Creek and river catchments are already saturated and will therefore respond very rapidly to any rainfall.
“Longer term, the restrengthening of the monsoon trough over the weekend may lead to multiple areas of heavy to intense rainfall over already saturated ground between about Innisfail and Bowen, with the potential for particularly significant and dangerous flash flooding.”
All Townsville district schools and childcare centres will be closed tomorrow.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) January 31, 2019
The Bureau warns if monsoon trough continues we face a continuing weather event. Take care of neighbours, stay tuned to local warnings and remember if it’s flooded forget it. pic.twitter.com/jCO244t6dT
TOWNSVILLE FORECAST
Friday: Rain, storm. 150mm to 200mm.
Saturday: Rain, storm. 150mm to 200mm.
Sunday: Rain, storm. 120mm to 200mm.
Monday: Rain, storm. 120mm to 200mm.
Tuesday: Rain, storm. 60mm to 100mm.
TRAFFIC CHAOS
An inner-city rock slide, flooded roads and a number of traffic crashes has affected motorists around the Townsville region.
A rock slide has closed one lane of Sturt Street in Townsville City, understood to be near the public car park opposite the Townsville Bulletin print site.
Townsville City Council has advised motorists to slow down and drive to the conditions.
A number of roads also remain closed or have limited access due to floodwaters, including Abbot Street in Idalia, the Lower Bohle Bridge, Allambie Lane at Rasmussen, Giru-Woodstock Road at Majors Creek, and the Bruce Highway at the Haughton River Bridge.
ROAD CLOSURES
Bruce Highway, Haughton River Bridge: Closed to all traffic, long delays expected
Woolcock St Bridge (Lower Bohle River Bridge): Closed to all traffic, long delays
Hervey Range Road, Lynam: Closed due to landslides, delays expected
Mount Spec Road, Crystal Creek/Paluma: Closed due to landslides, surface water
Woodstock Giru Road, Majors Creek: Closed to all traffic, long delays expected
Ingham Halifax Road, Halifax: Closed to all traffic, delays expected
Wallaman Falls Road, Lannercost: Closed to all traffic
Flash flooding is occurring on many roads, with caution urged: Bruce Highway at Black River/Bluewater and Rollingstone; Railway Avenue, Railway Estate.
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