Date | 28 January 2025 – ongoing |
---|---|
Location | Queensland, Australia |
Cause | Tropical low-pressure systems |
Deaths | 1 |
The 2025 Queensland floods refer to significant ongoing flooding that is impacting the northeast Australia state of Queensland in late January and early February 2025. The disaster resulted in at least one fatality and prompted mass evacuation orders in Queensland's coastal regions. [1]
The severe weather event was characterized by two tropical lows around north Queensland that produced rainfall totals the Australian Bureau of Meteorology compared to cyclonic conditions, despite not officially forming into cyclones. A third system in the Coral Sea was identified as having a moderate chance of developing into a tropical cyclone. [2] The weather system produced significant rainfall, with 24-hour totals reaching up to 300 millimeters (11.8 inches) in affected areas by 1 February. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology forecast the potential for continued heavy rainfall and damaging winds into early February, with its intensity dependent on the trough's strength and position. [1] [3] Meteorologists forecast additional rainfall between 160 and 250 millimeters in the Ingham-Townsville corridor, with potential totals reaching 450 millimeters in some areas. Areas outside this corridor were expected to receive between 100 and 160 millimeters over six hours, with isolated rainfall potentially reaching 300 millimeters in 24 hours. [4] Major flood warnings were issued for the Bohle, Black, Herbert, Haughton, and Ross rivers, while flood watches were implemented for the Proserpine, Burdekin, and additional sections of the Black River. [2]
By 4 p.m. local time on 2 February, some areas received more than 1,000 millimeters (1 meter) of precipitation, with Paluma recording over 175mm of rainfall within a three-hour period. Severe thunderstorms produced additional intense rainfall in the Herbert and Lower Burdekin regions. The Bureau of Meteorology reported that Paradise Lagoon recorded 164 millimeters of rainfall in three hours, and Rollstone recorded 101 millimeters. Isolated areas near Ingham recorded over 600 millimeters in 24 hours. [4]
The Bureau of Meteorology also closely monitored tidal conditions, forecasting high tides between 3.5 and 4 meters on 2 February, approximately one meter above normal levels. [4]
Major flooding particularly impacted the Shire of Hinchinbrook, a coastal locality of approximately 11,000 residents located 1500 kilometers north of Brisbane. The flooding also affected several suburbs in the nearby city of Townsville, significantly impacting Giru. [1] Townsville University Hospital announced the cancellation of most elective surgeries for 3 January, with only urgent procedures continuing. The Townsville Airport announced closure from 12:30 PM on 2 February due to the severe weather conditions, with airlines canceling and rescheduling services. By 3:30 p.m. local time, the Ross River Dam reached a capacity of 163.8%, causing Townsville's disaster management group to close it to the public and halt traffic to the area. [4]
In Cardwell, drone footage revealed extensive flooding of residential areas, particularly along Roma Street. The Cassowary Coast Regional Council issued emergency alerts for the town, warning of the possible spread of inundation in low-lying areas. [4]
In Ingham, floodwaters inundated several local businesses and caused widespread road closures. One person in Ingham was rescued from his submerged vehicle by community members. Approximately 6,700 properties lost power after the Ingham Substation was deactivated for safety purposes. The Herbert River rose significantly to 14.89 meters, with predicted peak levels expected to rise to 15.2 meters, matching historic flooding caused by Cyclone Dinah in March 1967. A woman drowned in floodwaters at Ingham when a State Emergency Service (SES) boat capsized after striking a tree on Rutledge Street, prompting investigation. The vessel was carrying six people at the time of the incident, with five being safely rescued. [4]
The locality of Palm Island suffered a complete power outage after its electrical network was damaged in a landslide. [4]
The flooding caused significant disruption to essential services across north Queensland. More than 8,000 homes lost power, with approximately 6,000 affected properties in Hinchinbrook, 2,000 in Townsville, and 600 in Mackay. [4]
Regional emergency management authorities issued evacuation orders for low-lying areas in coastal Queensland due to continuous torrential rainfall threatening life and property, and urged evacuees to bring evacuation kits. [1] Mandatory evacuations were ordered for six suburbs of Townsville designated as being in the "black zone", including Cluden, Oonoonba, Hermit Park, Railway Estate, Idalia, and Rosslea. Despite evacuation orders, some residents, particularly elderly community members, chose to remain in their homes. [4]
The State Emergency Service responded to dozens of calls for assistance across Ingham, Cardwell, Halifax, and other isolated communities. Swift water rescue teams conducted multiple operations in flood-affected areas, including the evacuation and rescue of families, several individuals stranded on rooftops in Cardwell, and one man found hanging onto a fence in Ingham. [4] The Queensland government declared disaster situations for Townsville, Hinchinbrook, and Innisfail. [2]
Ergon Energy implemented power shutdowns in flood-prone areas to prevent catastrophic equipment failure. An Ergon Energy vehicle was stolen while responding to reports of downed power lines in Townsville, though the vehicle was later recovered. [4]
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) declared the floods a "significant event," with the potential to escalate to "insurance catastrophe" status based on claim numbers and complexity. [4]
The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation issued warnings about increased crocodile activity during the flooding, including in areas where they were typically not present. [4]
The Australian Government activated Personal Hardship Assistance for parts of Townsville and select Gordonvale addresses. The assistance package included emergency payments of $180 per person and up to $900 for families of five or more, as well as possible grants for structural repairs and impacted household goods. Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese pledged the "full support" of both Queensland and federal governments, committing to provide all necessary resources to address the crisis. The Prime Minister confirmed direct communication with Premier of Queensland David Crisafulli to coordinate response efforts. [4]
Hinchinbrook Island is an island in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It lies east of Cardwell and north of Lucinda, separated from the north-eastern coast of Queensland by the narrow Hinchinbrook Channel. Hinchinbrook Island is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and wholly protected within the Hinchinbrook Island National Park, except for a small and abandoned resort. It is the largest island on the Great Barrier Reef. It is also the largest island national park in Australia.
Ingham is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Hinchinbrook, Queensland, Australia. It is named after William Bairstow Ingham and is the administrative centre for the Shire of Hinchinbrook.
The Herbert River is a river in Far North Queensland, Australia. The southernmost of Queensland's wet tropics river systems, it was named in 1864 by George Elphinstone Dalrymple explorer, after Robert George Wyndham Herbert, the first Premier of Queensland.
Australia has had over 160,708 floods in the last 10 years, many of which have taken out homes, wildlife and many habitats.
The geography of Queensland in the north-east of Australia, is varied. It includes tropical islands, sandy beaches, flat river plains that flood after monsoon rains, tracts of rough, elevated terrain, dry deserts, rich agricultural belts and densely populated urban areas.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Aivu was a powerful late-season tropical cyclone that caused extensive damage across parts of Queensland, Australia in April 1989.
Tropical Cyclone Tasha was a short-lived, but devastating tropical cyclone that exacerbated widespread floods in Queensland, Australia during the 2010 Christmas holiday.
The 2010 Gascoyne River flood was regarded as the most severe flood to take place along the Gascoyne River in Western Australia on record. Triggered by record-breaking rainfall, amounting to over 6,000 percent of the monthly mean, 313.6 mm (12.35 in) and 5 mm (0.20 in) respectively, in just four days, the floods caused widespread damage in the region. By 17 December, the river began to rise in response to the heavy rains, eventually exceeding its banks within two days. Water levels reached record values at three stations along the river, cresting at 15.53 m (51.0 ft) near Fishy Pool. Evacuation orders were issued for several towns affected by rising waters. The most substantial impact was felt in Carnarvon where entire homes were washed away. Following the disaster, emergency supplies and funds were distributed to affected residents to aid them in restoring their livelihoods. Though no people died in the event, an estimated two thousand head of cattle perished and damage was estimated at A$100 million.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi was a powerful and destructive tropical cyclone that made landfall in northern Queensland, Australia in early 2011, causing major damage to the affected areas. Originating as a tropical low near Fiji on 26 January, the system intensified to tropical cyclone status during the evening of 30 January. Yasi deepened rapidly over the next 24 hours, and was classified as a Category 3 cyclone at about 5 PM AEST on 31 January 2011. Late on 1 February, the cyclone strengthened to a Category 4 system; then, early on 2 February, the cyclone intensified into a Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone. The system had a well-defined eye and continued to track west-southwestward, maintaining a central pressure of 930 hPa and a Dvorak intensity of T6.5 into the evening.
The 1998 Townsville and Thuringowa city floods began on 10 January 1998, the cities of Townsville and Thuringowa were hit by one of the worst floods in the cities' history.
Tropical Cyclone Oswald was a tropical cyclone that passed over parts of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia over a number of days, causing widespread impact including severe storms, flooding, and water spouts. Coastal regions of Queensland were the most impacted with Mundubbera, Eidsvold, Gayndah and Bundaberg in the Wide Bay–Burnett hit severely. In many places the rainfall total for January set new records. Across the affected region, damage from severe weather and flooding amounted to at least A$2.4 billion.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Joy struck Australia in late 1990, causing the third highest floods on record in Rockhampton, Queensland. This cyclone began as a weak tropical low near the Solomon Islands, and initially moved westward. On 18 December, it was named Joy, becoming the 2nd named storm of the 1990–91 Australian region cyclone season. After turning southwest, Joy developed a well-defined eye and strengthened to maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h (103 mph) while approaching Cairns in Far North Queensland. Brushing the city with strong winds, the cyclone soon weakened and turned southeast. Joy later curved back southwest, making landfall near Townsville, Queensland on 26 December. It dissipated the next day; remnant moisture continued as torrential rainfall over Queensland for two weeks.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Winifred was the worst tropical cyclone to make landfall in northern Queensland and the first since Althea in 1971 to inflict significant damage on the northeastern coast of Australia. The sixth named storm of the 1985–86 Australian region cyclone season, Winifred originated as a tropical low north of Cairns, Queensland on 27 January 1986. Slowly organizing, the system was recognized as a tropical cyclone after gaining tropical characteristics on 30 January, christened with the name Winifred the same day. Meandering southward, the cyclone began to curve southeastward that evening before suddenly turning toward the coast, southwestward, on 31 January, steadily intensifying in that time. By the time it came ashore near Silkwood, Queensland at 0445 UTC on 1 February, it was producing Category 3-force winds on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale and a minimum atmospheric pressure of 957 mbar (28.38 inHg). Weakening as it drifted inland, Winifred persisted as a tropical depression for another five days after landfall before finally dissipating on 5 February.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Tessi was a small but potent tropical cyclone that caused extensive damage along the coast of North Queensland in early April 2000. The ninth cyclone and fourth severe tropical cyclone of the 1999–2000 Australian region cyclone season, Tessi developed on 1 April from a persistent trough of low pressure in the Coral Sea and slowly tracked west-southwestward. Tessi was an unusually compact storm that strengthened rapidly just before landfall, peaking as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale with 10-minute average maximum winds of 140 km/h. Around 22:00 UTC on 2 April, Tessi moved ashore about 75 km northwest of Townsville and rapidly diminished as it progressed inland. At the height of the storm, Magnetic Island experienced sustained winds of 109 km/h (68 mph), while gusts as high as 130 km/h (81 mph) were recorded in Townsville.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie in 2017 was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike Queensland since Marcia in 2015, and was the costliest tropical cyclone in Australia since Yasi in 2011. Forming as a tropical low on 23 March, the low gradually intensified into a named tropical cyclone on 25 March. After steadily strengthening offshore to a Category 4 system, Debbie eventually made landfall near Airlie Beach, at 12:40 AEST on 28 March. Afterwards, Debbie rapidly weakened into a tropical low by late 28 March, but continued to travel south, causing significant damage and flooding in the populous areas of South East Queensland and Northern Rivers. In total, the storm caused A$3.5 billion (US$2.67 billion) in damage and fourteen deaths across Australia, primarily as a result of extreme flooding. This makes Debbie the deadliest cyclone to hit Australia since Fifi in 1991.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Nora was a strong tropical cyclone that affected Far North Queensland and the northeastern Northern Territory during March 2018. The ninth named storm and third severe tropical cyclone of the 2017–18 Australian region cyclone season, Nora developed from a tropical low which formed near the Torres Strait on 19 March. The system initially moved quickly to the west-northwest, and then began tracking slowly southwestwards over the Arafura Sea while gradually developing. A turn to the east on 22 March brought the tropical low into a favourable environment for strengthening, and the system reached tropical cyclone intensity later that day. Nora then underwent a period of rapid intensification as it moved southeastwards into the Gulf of Carpentaria. The storm peaked on 23 March as a high-end Category 3 severe tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 155 km/h (96 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 958 hPa (28.29 inHg). Nora made landfall north of Pormpuraaw at about 13:00 UTC on 24 March as a minimal Category 3 system. Nora weakened steadily as it tracked southwards along the coast, and was downgraded to a tropical low the following day. Nora's remnants meandered over land for several days before moving back over the Gulf of Carpentaria and dissipating on 28 March.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Owen was an erratic and long-lived tropical cyclone that affected numerous regions along its track, especially Queensland, in December 2018. Owen was the fourth tropical low, first tropical cyclone, and first severe tropical cyclone of the 2018–19 Australian region cyclone season. Cyclone Owen developed on 29 November 2018 from an area of low pressure that was situated over the Solomon Islands; the system struggled to strengthen in a conflicting environment and degenerated to a tropical low on 3 December. The low drifted westward, and on 9 December, it made its first landfall in Queensland, before moving over the Gulf of Carpentaria, where more favourable conditions allowed it to re-organise. The system regenerated into a tropical cyclone on 12 December and rapidly intensified into a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone that night. At midnight on 13 December, Cyclone Owen made landfall in the Northern Territory, before turning eastward and reaching peak intensity, with sustained winds of 150 km/h (95 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 958 hPa (28.3 inHg). On 13 December, Owen made landfall on Queensland again, just north of the mouth of the Gilbert River near Kowanyama. The cyclone weakened rapidly after its third landfall, and the final advisory on Owen was issued on 15 December, after it had degenerated into a tropical low. However, the system persisted over the Coral Sea for another several days, before dissipating on 20 December.
Tropical Cyclone Kimi was a small tropical cyclone which briefly threatened the Eastern Coast of North Queensland in January 2021. The tenth tropical low and third tropical cyclone of the 2020–21 Australian region cyclone season, Kimi originated from a weak tropical low which formed northeast of Queensland on 16 January. The low strengthened into Tropical Cyclone Kimi early the next day, as it slowly moved towards the coastline of northeastern Australia. Despite most forecasts depicting a track south into the coast, a vigorous increase in wind shear made the storm shift west away from the coastline just hours ahead of a potential landfall and caused Kimi to significantly weaken, becoming a tropical low by 18 January and dissipating entirely the next day.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Dinah was an intense tropical cyclone that impacted the southern coasts of Queensland and New South Wales, causing floods and landslides in 1967. It was regarded by an official in the Bureau of Meteorology's Brisbane Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre as the strongest storm to approach the southern coasts of Queensland since reliable records began. Forming on January 22 in the South Pacific basin, nearly 620 kilometers to the southeast of Honiara in the Solomon Islands, the disturbance that would eventually be Dinah remained disorganized until the next day when the system started to organize under the warm waters of the Coral Sea. On January 24, the disturbance was upgraded to a tropical cyclone by the BoM and was named Dinah, being the fifth storm in the records of the meteorology center of Australia in the 1966–67 Australian region cyclone season. Environmental conditions favoured Dinah to further intensify, becoming a severe tropical cyclone on January 27 while recurving south-southwestwards. On the next day, it passed through the Great Barrier Reef as a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone before passing through Fraser Island on January 29, where the Sandy Cape Lighthouse recorded a minimum barometric pressure of 944.8 hPa on Dinah, being the lowest known pressure of the system. It then battered the whole island before turning south-southeastwards, away from the coast of Queensland. Weakening took place while slowing down, passing near Lord Howe Island as a Category 2 tropical cyclone before undergoing extratropical transition on January 31. Dinah became extratropical on the night of that day before accelerating eastward, approaching New Zealand. The system then turned southeastward for the final time before passing through the North Island. It reemerged on the Southern Pacific Ocean on February 3, where it dissipated.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Kirrily was a long-lived and strong tropical cyclone that affected East Australia and the Northern Territory during January and February 2024. The third named storm and severe tropical cyclone of the 2023–24 Australian region cyclone season, Kirrily developed from a tropical low that formed within the Coral Sea. The system gradually developed, being in a favorable environment for further development with good outflow, low vertical wind shear, and warm sea surface temperatures, resulting in the system becoming a tropical cyclone intensity. The storm peaked on 25 January as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 978 hPa (28.88 inHg). Kirrily made landfall northwest of Townsville, Australia. Kirrily weakened steadily as it tracked northwestward along the coast and was downgraded to a tropical low later that day. However, Kirrily remained traceable, as it moved westwards towards the Queensland region throughout the rest of January. The system only produced near-gale-force winds in the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) determined that the low was not expected to redevelop into a tropical cyclone. Kirrily accelerated inland with the rainbands unraveling and warming cloud tops, until it was last noted on the BoM tropical cyclone outlooks on 3 February.