A powerful monsoon trough is predicted to unleash as much as 600mm of rain, along with storms, throughout significant areas of Queensland. 

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, this trough is associated with a low-pressure system that is anticipated to intensify as it progresses from the northwest toward the southeast, starting tonight and continuing into the coming week.

The forecast indicates that this weather system will impact locations including Cairns, Innisfail, Tully, Ingham, Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Burketown, Mornington Island, Normanton, Doomadgee, Richmond, Julia Creek, Camooweal, and Croydon.

Heavy rainfall of up to 260mm is expected, potentially leading to flash flooding in areas from Cairns to just north of Townsville, beginning tonight and extending into tomorrow.

Furthermore, regions such as the Gulf Country, Northern Goldfields, Upper Flinders, North West, and Central West Forecast Districts could experience up to 170mm of rain, with the risk of flash floods.

Meanwhile, in the northeast tropical coast, winds are picking up speed and damage.

Together, the monsoon trough and winds are expected to spur widespread heavy rainfall.

In the 24 hours to 9am today, 217mm of rainfall was already recorded in Cardwell Gap, making it the wettest place in Australia. 

Consequently, there are flood warnings in place for the Nicholson, Leichhardt, Norman, Gilbert and Diamantin catchments and flood watches for much of the state.

The Gregory River in northwest Queensland is already at major flood levels.

Senior meteorologist Jonathan How warned conditions could continue for a prolonged time and particularly affect outback and remote communities.

“Heavy rainfall will lead to road closures and community isolation, and this could last for quite some period of time, especially for outback and more remote communities as well,” he said.

“We are expecting impacts to agriculture, particularly to cattle and livestock, with low temperatures and flood waters expected to last for an extended period of time.”

How said rainfall totals will climb over 300mm through the western parts of the state tomorrow and could reach beyond 600mm by Wednesday.

“We are expecting those four-day totals to reach in excess of, even breaching, 700 millimetres,” he said.

“And rainfall won’t end there.”

The monsoon trough and low will then continue to move across the eastern parts of Queensland.

The Bureau of Meteorology will have a clearer understanding of where the rainfall is expected later next week.