Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
Severe Weather Warning
for Heavy Rainfall
for parts of Herbert and Lower Burdekin Forecast District.
Issued at 4:53 am Thursday, 1 January 2026.
Heavy rainfall remains possible along the Townsville coast today.
Weather Situation
A coastal trough over the northeast is combining with a very humid airmass to bring widespread moderate rainfall today, with heavy rainfall possible in localised areas.
HEAVY RAINFALL for the following areas:
Herbert and Lower Burdekin
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible between Townsville and Bowen this morning and early afternoon. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 to 150 mm are likely, with isolated falls in excess of 220 mm possible. HEAVY RAINFALL is expected to ease during this afternoon, although there is the slight potential for re-development of localised heavy rainfall later tonight over the broader Townsville Coast area.
Flood Watches and Flood Warnings are current for Northern Queensland. Please refer to https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts for more information.
Locations which may be affected include Ayr, Giru and Alva Beach.
Severe weather is no longer occurring in the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands district and the warning for this district is CANCELLED.
80mm was recorded at Upper Stuart Creek (South of Townsville) in the 1 hour to 2:35am.
Cancellation for the following areas:
North Tropical Coast and Tablelands
Emergency services advise people to:
* Park your car undercover away from trees.
* Close doors and windows.
* Keep asthma medications close by. Storms and wind can trigger asthma attacks.
* Charge mobile phones and power banks in case the power goes out.
* Put your pets somewhere safe and make sure they can be identified in case they get lost.
* Do not drive now unless you have to because conditions are dangerous.
* Tell friends, family and neighbours in the area.
* Go inside a strong building now. Stay inside until the storm has passed.
The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 11:00 am AEST Thursday.
Check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts. Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and emergency services would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.
Forecast
Arcadia (19.151°S, 146.8642°E, 0m AMSL) set as my default location ›
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7 day forecast
Today: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding possible. Light winds becoming E/NE 15 to 25 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the late evening. Daytime maximum temperatures in the mid to high 20s.
Forecast for Arcadia (19.151°S, 146.8642°E, 0m AMSL) Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Summary 
Minimum 24° 23° 24° 24° 23° 23° 23° Maximum 27° 30° 31° 31° 31° 31° 32° Chance of rain 90% 90% 90% 90% 80% 60% 50% Likely amount 20-40mm 10-20mm 20-40mm 10-20mm 1-5mm 1-5mm 1-5mm UV index Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Fire Danger Rating No Rating No Rating No Rating No Rating - - - Frost risk Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm Wind speed 18
(km/h)27
(km/h)22
(km/h)30
(km/h)22
(km/h)29
(km/h)22
(km/h)30
(km/h)24
(km/h)32
(km/h)23
(km/h)28
(km/h)22
(km/h)32
(km/h)Wind direction E E ESE ESE E E E E SE ESE SE E SE ESE Relative humidity 90% 89% 81% 78% 78% 77% 80% 77% 75% 66% 71% 64% 69% 61% Dew point 23°C 24°C 24°C 24°C 25°C 25°C 25°C 25°C 23°C 22°C 22°C 23°C 22°C 23°C -
Sunrise and sunset times
Sunrise / Sunset for Arcadia (19.151°S, 146.8642°E, 0m AMSL) First light Sunrise Sunset Last light Moon rise Moon set Moon phase Full moon Last quarter New moon First quarter 5:14am EST 5:38am EST 6:54pm EST 7:19pm EST 4:46pm EST 2:50am EST 
Waxing gibbous
Full moon Jan 03 Last quarter Jan 11 New moon Jan 19 First quarter Jan 26 -
Warnings
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Temperature for next 7 days
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Rain for next 7 days
