Flood Warning Issued for Mulgrave and Russell Rivers as Cyclone Narelle Approaches

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued an Initial Minor Flood Warning for the Mulgrave River and a Flood Warning for the Russell River. The alert (IDQ20712) was issued at 12:43 pm AEST on Thursday, March 19, 2026, following moderate rainfall and the approach of a severe weather system.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the Mulgrave and Russell River catchments in Far North Queensland. Specific locations and monitoring points include:

• Mulgrave River at Peets Bridge and Gordonvale
• Russell River at Bucklands and Clyde Rd
• Babinda Creek at The Boulders
• Mulgrave River at The Fisheries

What You Should Do

Residents are urged to prioritize safety: do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater. Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways. Obey all road closure signs and plan travel to avoid flooded roads. For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately. Monitor local media and visit www.disaster.qld.gov.au/warnings for further updates.

Expected Conditions

Moderate rainfall has already saturated the catchment, which is expected to respond quickly to further precipitation. Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle is forecast to bring heavy rainfall across the region starting Thursday.

• Mulgrave River at Peets Bridge: Currently at 3.27 m and steady; expected to exceed the minor flood level of 5.00 m overnight Thursday.
• Mulgrave River at Gordonvale: Currently at 9.05 m and falling; expected to exceed the minor flood level of 12.00 m Friday morning.
• Russell River: Significant river level rises and flooding are possible.

Timeline

The alert is effective as of Thursday afternoon. Minor flooding is anticipated to develop overnight Thursday and into Friday morning, March 20. The Bureau of Meteorology will monitor the situation closely and expects to issue the next update by 10:00 PM AEST on Thursday.