Major Flood Warning Issued for Upper Balonne River; Surat Braces for 10.5m Peak

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Major Flood Warning (IDQ20831) for the Upper Balonne River. This is the tenth warning issued for this event, effective as of 12:48 pm AEST on Monday, March 16, 2026.

Affected Areas

The warning covers several locations along the Balonne River, including:

• Surat and Warkon (Major Flooding)
• Warroo (Potential Minor Flooding)
• Balonne River downstream of Surat to Beardmore Dam
• Balonne River to Surat

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are urged to prioritize safety with the following actions:

• Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater as it is dangerous.
• Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways.
• Obey all road closure signs and plan travel to avoid flooded routes.
• Monitor the ABC and local media for updates.
• For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.
• Visit www.disaster.qld.gov.au/warnings for local emergency management advice.

Expected Conditions

Major flooding is currently occurring at Warkon and Surat.

• Surat: River levels are estimated to be above the major flood level of 9.0 meters and rising slowly. The river is expected to peak near 10.50 meters during Monday afternoon.
• Warkon: The river was recorded at 10.47 meters at midday Monday and is currently falling, though it remains well above the major flood level of 9.00 meters.
• Warroo: The river is currently at 8.09 meters and steady. It may exceed the minor flood level of 9.00 meters overnight Monday into Tuesday as upstream flows arrive.
• Rainfall: No significant rainfall is forecast across the catchment for the next several days.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 12:48 pm AEST on Monday, March 16, 2026. Major flooding at Warkon is likely to persist through at least Wednesday. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 1:00 pm AEST on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.