Active Weather Alerts
Initial Flood Watch
Issued: 2:18 AM Jan. 8, 2026 – Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
for
Strong Wind Warning
Issued: 1:39 AM Jan. 8, 2026 – Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Strong Wind Warning for Torres Strait, Peninsula Coast, Cooktown Coast and Mackay Coast
Strong Wind Warning
Issued: 1:39 AM Jan. 8, 2026 – Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Strong Wind Warning for Torres Strait, Cooktown Coast, Cairns Coast, Townsville Coast and Mackay Coast
Severe Weather Warning for Heavy Rainfall
Issued: 12:53 AM Jan. 8, 2026 – Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
For the NORTH TROPICAL COAST north of, and including, CAIRNS: HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast to develop during Friday and continue into Saturday. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 50 to 100 mm are likely, with isolated falls in excess of 180 mm possible. 24-hourly rainfall totals 100 to 180 mm are likely, with isolated falls in excess of 250 mm possible. East to southeasterly DAMAGING WINDS averaging 55 to 65 km/h with wind gusts around 90 km/h are also possible during Friday and Saturday about coastal areas, including the reef, particularly in showers and thunderstorms. For the NORTH TROPICAL COAST south of CAIRNS, the HERBERT AND LOWER BURDEKIN and parts of the CENTRAL COAST AND WHITSUNDAYS: HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast to develop north of Townsville from Friday afternoon and extend south through the remainder of the warning area overnight Friday and into Saturday. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 100 to 170 mm are likely. Locally INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is possible during this period with isolated falls in excess of 250 mm possible. 24-hourly totals between 150 to 250 mm are likely, with isolated falls in excess of 350 mm possible. East to southeasterly DAMAGING WINDS averaging 55 to 65 km/h with wind gusts around 90 km/h are also expected about exposed coastal parts during Friday, particularly in showers and thunderstorms, and continue throughout Saturday, as the winds shift northeasterly during the afternoon and evening. Conditions could begin to ease about the North Tropical Coast north of Innisfail by Saturday evening, but are likely to persist into Sunday over parts of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin and Central Coast and Whitsundays. Rainfall totals and warning area is dependent on the development and location of the tropical low. The tropical low is being monitored closely and if further strengthening is likely then a Tropical Cyclone Advice may be issued. A separate Severe Thunderstorm Warning will be issued if intense rainfall is detected. Separate Flood Watch and Warning products are current for parts of northeast Queensland. For more information, check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts Underlying wet soils will make trees easier to fall about the northeast tropical coast. Landslips could also occur about steep and hilly terrain. Locations which may be affected include Cairns, Yarrabah, Wujal Wujal, Port Douglas, Hope Vale, Atherton, Mareeba, Innisfail, Palm Island, Cardwell, Ingham, Ayr, Townsville, Bowen, Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands.
Severe Weather Warning for Damaging Wind
Issued: 12:53 AM Jan. 8, 2026 – Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
For the NORTH TROPICAL COAST north of, and including, CAIRNS: HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast to develop during Friday and continue into Saturday. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 50 to 100 mm are likely, with isolated falls in excess of 180 mm possible. 24-hourly rainfall totals 100 to 180 mm are likely, with isolated falls in excess of 250 mm possible. East to southeasterly DAMAGING WINDS averaging 55 to 65 km/h with wind gusts around 90 km/h are also possible during Friday and Saturday about coastal areas, including the reef, particularly in showers and thunderstorms. For the NORTH TROPICAL COAST south of CAIRNS, the HERBERT AND LOWER BURDEKIN and parts of the CENTRAL COAST AND WHITSUNDAYS: HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast to develop north of Townsville from Friday afternoon and extend south through the remainder of the warning area overnight Friday and into Saturday. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 100 to 170 mm are likely. Locally INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is possible during this period with isolated falls in excess of 250 mm possible. 24-hourly totals between 150 to 250 mm are likely, with isolated falls in excess of 350 mm possible. East to southeasterly DAMAGING WINDS averaging 55 to 65 km/h with wind gusts around 90 km/h are also expected about exposed coastal parts during Friday, particularly in showers and thunderstorms, and continue throughout Saturday, as the winds shift northeasterly during the afternoon and evening. Conditions could begin to ease about the North Tropical Coast north of Innisfail by Saturday evening, but are likely to persist into Sunday over parts of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin and Central Coast and Whitsundays. Rainfall totals and warning area is dependent on the development and location of the tropical low. The tropical low is being monitored closely and if further strengthening is likely then a Tropical Cyclone Advice may be issued. A separate Severe Thunderstorm Warning will be issued if intense rainfall is detected. Separate Flood Watch and Warning products are current for parts of northeast Queensland. For more information, check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts Underlying wet soils will make trees easier to fall about the northeast tropical coast. Landslips could also occur about steep and hilly terrain. Locations which may be affected include Cairns, Yarrabah, Wujal Wujal, Port Douglas, Hope Vale, Atherton, Mareeba, Innisfail, Palm Island, Cardwell, Ingham, Ayr, Townsville, Bowen, Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands.
Severe Weather Warning for Intense Rainfall
Issued: 12:53 AM Jan. 8, 2026 – Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
For the NORTH TROPICAL COAST north of, and including, CAIRNS: HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast to develop during Friday and continue into Saturday. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 50 to 100 mm are likely, with isolated falls in excess of 180 mm possible. 24-hourly rainfall totals 100 to 180 mm are likely, with isolated falls in excess of 250 mm possible. East to southeasterly DAMAGING WINDS averaging 55 to 65 km/h with wind gusts around 90 km/h are also possible during Friday and Saturday about coastal areas, including the reef, particularly in showers and thunderstorms. For the NORTH TROPICAL COAST south of CAIRNS, the HERBERT AND LOWER BURDEKIN and parts of the CENTRAL COAST AND WHITSUNDAYS: HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast to develop north of Townsville from Friday afternoon and extend south through the remainder of the warning area overnight Friday and into Saturday. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 100 to 170 mm are likely. Locally INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is possible during this period with isolated falls in excess of 250 mm possible. 24-hourly totals between 150 to 250 mm are likely, with isolated falls in excess of 350 mm possible. East to southeasterly DAMAGING WINDS averaging 55 to 65 km/h with wind gusts around 90 km/h are also expected about exposed coastal parts during Friday, particularly in showers and thunderstorms, and continue throughout Saturday, as the winds shift northeasterly during the afternoon and evening. Conditions could begin to ease about the North Tropical Coast north of Innisfail by Saturday evening, but are likely to persist into Sunday over parts of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin and Central Coast and Whitsundays. Rainfall totals and warning area is dependent on the development and location of the tropical low. The tropical low is being monitored closely and if further strengthening is likely then a Tropical Cyclone Advice may be issued. A separate Severe Thunderstorm Warning will be issued if intense rainfall is detected. Separate Flood Watch and Warning products are current for parts of northeast Queensland. For more information, check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts Underlying wet soils will make trees easier to fall about the northeast tropical coast. Landslips could also occur about steep and hilly terrain. Locations which may be affected include Cairns, Yarrabah, Wujal Wujal, Port Douglas, Hope Vale, Atherton, Mareeba, Innisfail, Palm Island, Cardwell, Ingham, Ayr, Townsville, Bowen, Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands.
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