Minor Flood Warning Issued for Balonne River at St George and Lower Balonne Regions

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued an initial Minor Flood Warning (IDQ20833) for the Lower Balonne River. The alert was issued at 3:12 pm AEST on Monday, March 16, 2026, following recent rainfall across the Lower Condamine and Upper Balonne catchments.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically impacts the following regions in Queensland:

• Lower Balonne River
• Balonne River at St George
• Lower Balonne and Bokhara Rivers
• Balonne River Minor

Major flooding is currently occurring upstream along the Lower Balonne around Surat, and floodwaters have reached the Beardmore Dam.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the affected areas are advised to take the following precautions:

• 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 roads.
• Monitor local media and the ABC for updates. The situation can change quickly.
• For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.

Expected Conditions

Minor flooding is likely to develop at St George from late Monday afternoon. While current observations at St George are unavailable, nearby automatic gauges indicate the river is rising and is expected to exceed the minor flood level of 6.00 meters. Further rises are possible as upstream flows continue to arrive. No significant rainfall is forecast for the catchment over the next few days.

Timeline

The minor flood level at St George is expected to be reached late Monday afternoon, March 16, 2026. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 3:00 PM AEST on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.