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In brief
- Cyclone watch cancelled for Far North Queensland but wild weather is still expected.
- Residents asked to watch for alerts and observe flood emergency warnings.
- Up to 240ml of rain expected to fall in a six-hour period on Friday.
Residents of Far North Queensland are facing chaos due to sudden flash flooding, with more rain anticipated, prompting authorities to urge locals to move to higher ground.
Although a tropical low is anticipated to make landfall, many residents in Far North Queensland have already been advised to evacuate because of the rising floodwaters.
On Thursday evening at 9:30 PM, police issued a flood emergency alert for the Daintree River, warning of ongoing flash floods and advising people to seek safety on higher terrain.
Elsewhere, sandbagging stations have been set up as forecasts predict heavy rainfall, flooding, and strong winds for Friday, with the tropical low moving northeast of Cairns.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has warned that up to 240mm of rain could fall in just six hours on Friday, potentially resulting in perilous and life-threatening flash floods.
Local infrastructure has already been impacted with the wild conditions causing the Daintree Ferry to come loose from its moorings.
Council and emergency crews will attempt to retrieve the vessel once conditions allow, Douglas Shire mayor Lisa Scomazzon said.
“We ask for everyone’s patience and understanding as we continue to deal with a major flooding event that is affecting the entire region,” she said.
A cyclone watch for the region was cancelled on Thursday after the system was considered a very low chance of intensifying before hitting the coast.
The “disconnected” tropical low was likely to reach the coast by Friday afternoon between Cairns and Townsville before moving southwest into central Queensland on the weekend, the BOM’s Angus Hines said.
Cassowary Coast mayor Teresa Millwood said emergency services were ready to deploy in Innisfail and Cardwell and sandbag stations were ready if people needed them.
Residents had been advised to have their emergency plans in place, stock up on supplies and be ready to leave before their homes flooded, she said.
“You never know until it actually happens, but we’re prepared,” she said.
“Basically, we just sit back and wait now.”
Hinchinbrook Shire mayor Ramon Jayo said his community had been warned to expect heavy rain and high winds.
“We’ve got a load coming at us … but we’re ready,” he said.
“We just got rid of a major flood last Monday and we’re lining up again for some more flooding.”
The usual warnings about floodwaters had gone out to residents who knew the drill, he said.
“They’re restocking their pantries in case they are stranded for a period of time due to floodwater.”
Other parts of the state would also cop severe weather as the system crossed the coast on Friday, Hines said.
The coast from Townsville down to Mackay will also be an area to watch.
Heavy falls could continue over north Queensland but might also stretch down through the Central Coast, Capricornia and into the Wide Bay region, around Bundaberg and Hervey Bay.
The impacts could also be felt in southeast Queensland at the weekend, Hines said.
Southeast Queensland residents have been asked to keep track of forecasts, especially for rain on Sunday.
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