Northern Queensland is bracing for an onslaught of monsoonal rain and potential flooding over the coming days, according to forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). The region is set to experience several hundred millimetres of rainfall, raising concerns about possible inundations.

A flood watch has been issued for much of northern Australia, encompassing areas from eastern parts of the Northern Territory to western, northern, and even eastern Queensland. The BoM warns that riverine flooding could occur as a result of the expected downpours.

BoM meteorologist Felim Haniffy has indicated that the heavy rain will begin to make its presence felt later this weekend, continuing into early next week. “We anticipate widespread, heavy, and even locally intense rainfall across the area,” Haniffy stated. “Daily rainfall totals could range between 100 to 200mm.”

In particular, north-west Queensland and the North Tropical Coast are projected to receive over 300mm of rain within the next five to seven days, underscoring the potential severity of the weather event.

North-west Queensland and the North Tropical Coast is set to receive more than 300mm of rain in the next five to seven days.

The wet conditions are also likely to spread to Cairns and Bowen over the weekend.

The fierce weather system is being driven by a monsoon trough spread across the north of the state, as well as other low-pressure troughs in the west and east parts Queensland.

The troughs are expected to mingle with significant moisture across the tropics and drive widespread showers and thunderstorms through northern Australia.

Thunderstorms may also bring flash flooding in certain areas, with residents across northern parts of Queensland and the NT warned to be on high alert.

New Years revellers are warned to be aware of the possibility of road closures, wet and muddy conditions and the potential for remote communities in western Queensland to be cut off due to the storms.

Holidayer hit by flying bin during Christmas Day storms

Meanwhile, a holidayer was hit with a flying bin as heavy storms lashed the Gold Coast on Christmas Day.

Triple M Radio host Margaux Parker and her husband, Brisbane Broncos legend Corey Parker, were holidaying at Broadwater Tourist Park when the fierce storm hit, forcing them to scramble to secure their belongings.

“It was wild, we’ve never experienced anything like that and we definitely have seen some storms down there on the Gold Coast before at this time,” Mrs Parker said.

“We’ve definitely seen our fair share of storms. We’ve had hail and we’ve had the cyclone a couple of years ago that came through in 2023, but nothing quite like this.

“It was different. It was a lot shorter, but definitely sharper. It came in with a punch and it definitely left a lot of destruction in its path.”

“Unfortunately, our caravan just happens to be in the exclusion zone because that crane that has folded in half is sort of posing a little bit of a danger to the caravaners below it,” Mrs Parker said.

“There are gazebos that don’t belong in the front yards of certain caravans, there are boats off their trailers, there are trailers with boats that have made their way down the street.

“So it’s a little bit of a shamozzle and it doesn’t look very pretty at the moment, but as soon as we’re able to be into that exclusion zone, we can start to assess the damage and do a bit of a clean up.”

Strong winds continue to hamper efforts to dismantle the crane, with fears it could take days to remove.

“The whole crane is actually leaning now towards the north, which puts the whole northern section of the caravan park in danger,” Queensland Police Acting Inspector Peter Venz said.