Monsoon conditions, major flood warnings and heavy rainfall douses Australia

Residents in Far North Queensland have been warned there is an immediate threat to lives and property, as river levels rise rapidly across the Daintree and Bloomfield River catchments.

An emergency warning was still in place on Friday afternoon urging residents to move to higher ground as heavy rainfall continued to hit areas around the Douglas Shire.

“Leave now and go to a safe place in a high part of town away from the flood,” a warning read.

“The Bureau of Meteorology advises heavy rainfall since Thursday afternoon has caused rapid river level rises across the Daintree and Bloomfield River catchments.

“Rapid river level rises are occurring along the Bloomfield River at China Camp. River levels have started to rise along the Mossman River at Mossman.”

A tropical low that formed over the Coral Sea about 116km northeast of Cairns is encroaching on the mainland, bringing with it heavy rainfalls over the Daintree Rainforest.

Severe weather warnings were in place across the Peninsula, North Tropical Coast and Tablelands, Gulf Country, Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Jonathan How told the Courier Mail 80 to 160mm of rainfall was possible across six hours as the low crossed the coast on Friday.

“We’ll see rain, storms, and showers building inland, including for the Atherton Tablelands and even as far west as Georgetown,” he said.

“Into the afternoon, we’ll start to see those showers extend southward towards Townsville, and by the evening even all the way down towards Mackay.

“Into the afternoon, we’ll start to see those showers extend southward towards Townsville, and by the evening even all the way down towards Mackay.

“We may also see locally moderate to heavy falls about the coast, not just within that warning area, but also further away down the coast and inland.”

Mr How said the rain would head south towards Capricornia, Wide Bay, and northern Darling Downs on Saturday.

“Then on Sunday, we’ll see the rain picking up across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, as well as the Darling Downs,” he said.

“Each day on the weekend we could see those 24-hour rainfall totals up to 50mm across central and southeastern parts.”

Hundreds of thousands of Aussies are hunkering down as monsoon conditions bring mass downpours and flood river catchments in what meteorologists predict could be a wild weekend for the nation.

A tropical low has formed over the Coral Sea about 116km northeast of Cairns and is encroaching on the mainland, bringing with it heavy rainfalls over the Daintree Rainforest.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said the bureau had initially been keeping an eye on the low because it had the potential to form a tropical cyclone, but that outcome was now considered “unlikely”.

“It’s bringing very heavy rainfall to North Queensland. At about 9am yesterday there was a big fall in the Daintree River area, with stations at different points each recording deluges of 425 millimetres, 366 millimetres and 285 millimetres,” Mr Narramore said.

“We expect this tropical low to probably cross the coast some time on Friday afternoon, with the worst of conditions being located well away from where the low does cross. Heavy rainfall is starting to spread down into the Herbert and Lower Burdekin.

“Flood watches are current for much of northern and eastern Queensland, and there’s likely to be flash and riverine flooding, which we are already seeing on the Daintree River.”

Mr Narramore said the Northern Territory would also be experiencing “widespread heavy rainfall” this weekend, particularly around Katherine, which has copped between 100 and 200mm since 9am on Thursday morning.

“The widespread heavy rainfall is also leading to flash and marine flooding. We’re now expecting to possibly look at major flooding on the Katherine River as Friday continues,” he said.

Western Australia is experiencing hot and sunny weekend weather, especially in the south where fire danger has been elevated due to an expectation of temperatures to hit the high 30s and low 40s.

Sporadic showers are expected in isolated patches across NSW and southern Queensland.

In Sydney, temperatures for Saturday are expected to hit a minimum of 22C and a max of 29C.

Down the highway towards Canberra, temperatures will vary much more significantly with a high of 30C and a low of 15C.

Melbourne will experience a low of 15C and a high of 30C, and Hobart residents starting their weekends with an early morning run will wake up feeling a little chilly with a projected low of 13C and a high of 23C as the day goes on.

Brisbane will experience a low of 22C and a high of 30C, Adelaide is in for a low of 14C and a max of 27C, and Darwin will have a rainy day with a high of 29C and a low of 24C.

In the west, Perth is due for a sweltering Saturday, with a high of 36C and a low of 21C.