Major Flood Warning Issued for Fitzroy River Catchment and Dawson River

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Major Flood Warning (IDQ20765) for the Fitzroy River Catchment. This update, issued at 3:06 pm AEST on Friday, March 13, 2026, indicates that major flooding is currently occurring in several areas, with further rises expected as upstream flows move through the system.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad geographic area within Queensland, specifically targeting:

• Dawson River: Baralaba, Moura, Taroom, and Theodore Weir.
• Fitzroy River: Yaamba and Rockhampton.
• Mackenzie River: Tartrus and Bedford Weir.
• Other Rivers: Comet River and Nogoa River.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas should monitor river levels closely. Those near Baralaba should be aware that the river is expected to remain well above the major flood level of 9.00 meters for several days. Residents in Yaamba and Rockhampton should prepare for rising water levels through the weekend and into early next week. Stay informed of further updates from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Expected Conditions

• Baralaba: Major flooding is occurring; the river is expected to remain above the 9.00m major flood level.
• Theodore Weir: Currently at 7.95m and rising. It is expected to exceed the minor flood level (8.00m) Friday afternoon and may exceed the moderate flood level (11.00m) from Sunday.
• Yaamba: Minor flooding is expected overnight Friday into Saturday, with moderate flooding possible from late Saturday.
• Rockhampton: River levels are expected to rise through the weekend, with a near-minor flood peak possible early next week.
• Bedford Weir: A flood peak is moving through with major flooding occurring.
• Taroom: Minor flooding is currently easing, with the river at 5.41m and falling.
• Moura: Estimated to be above the minor flood level (6.00m) and likely to remain elevated for several days.

Timeline

The alert was issued on Friday afternoon, March 13, 2026. Elevated river levels are expected to continue across the next few days as flows move through the catchment. Specific peaks for the lower Fitzroy River, including Rockhampton, are anticipated early next week. The current warning phase is active through March 16, 2026.