“It’s exactly that,” he said. “You don’t need a tropical cyclone to concentrate the monsoon and get these extreme rainfall totals.”

A disaster declaration is in place for Townsville and Innisfail. No lives have been lost or missing persons recorded.

A very wet weekend is forecast for large parts of Australia’s north, including Townsville. Source: AAP / Scott Radford-Chisholm

Additional police, SES and Fire Department resources have been deployed to the region, the state’s disaster coordinator Shane Chelepy said.

The weather bureau said residents in the state’s north are likely to see this protracted flooding into the middle of next week.

The council has been releasing water from the Ross River Dam to manage water levels.

Victoria set for heatwave

“We need all Victorians, particularly those in high-risk areas, to act now. Don’t wait until it’s too late.”

People looking to cool off during the hot spell have been reminded to prioritise water safety as temperatures soar, with Life Saving Victoria urging people to swim with friends between red and yellow flags, keep an eye on children around the water and