Moderate Flood Warning Issued for Daintree and Mossman Rivers in Queensland

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Moderate Flood Warning for the Daintree River and a Flood Warning for the Mossman River. This is warning number 5 for this event, issued at 3:29 pm AEST on Friday, 20 March 2026. The alert follows moderate to heavy rainfall observed across the catchment since Wednesday evening.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically impacts the Daintree River catchment, including Daintree Village and Bairds, as well as the Mossman River at Mossman. These areas are located in the North Tropical Coast region of Queensland. A broader Flood Watch remains in effect for the Cape York Peninsula and parts of the North Tropical Coast due to Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle.

What You Should Do

Residents are urged to prioritize safety and follow these guidelines:

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

Expected Conditions

Moderate flooding is possible at Daintree Village overnight Friday and into Saturday. While river levels were observed falling as of Friday afternoon, further heavy rainfall is forecast and could lead to significant rises.

Latest River Heights:

• Daintree River at Daintree Village: Currently 5.30 m (falling), which is above the minor flood level of 4.00 m. It is forecast to potentially reach the moderate flood level of 6.00 m.
• Daintree River at Bairds: 8.10 m (falling) with minor flooding occurring.
• Mossman River at Mossman: 5.95 m (falling) with elevated river levels.

Timeline

The alert was issued on Friday afternoon, March 20, 2026. Moderate flood levels are expected to be reached overnight Friday into Saturday morning. The Bureau of Meteorology intends to issue the next update by 10:00 AM AEST on Saturday, 21 March 2026.