Moderate Flood Warning Issued for Fitzroy River Catchment in Queensland

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Moderate Flood Warning (IDQ20765) for the Fitzroy River Catchment. Issued at 11:22 am AEST on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, this update confirms that moderate flooding is occurring at Baralaba and Coolmaringa, with minor flooding impacting several other locations along the river system.

Affected Areas

The warning encompasses several regions and waterways within the Fitzroy River Catchment in Queensland, specifically:

• Dawson River: Baralaba, Beckers, Moura, Knebworth, and Theodore.
• Mackenzie River: Coolmaringa and Tartrus.
• Fitzroy River: Riverslea, Yaamba, and Rockhampton.

Expected Conditions

• Dawson River at Baralaba: River levels are expected to remain above the moderate flood level of 7.50 meters and steady through Wednesday.
• Dawson River at Moura: Minor flooding is occurring with levels estimated above 6.00 meters; levels may fall below this threshold late Tuesday.
• Fitzroy River at Yaamba: Minor flooding continues after a peak of approximately 11.10 meters on Monday. Levels are expected to remain above the minor flood level (9.00 meters) until Thursday.
• Fitzroy River at Rockhampton: Levels are currently peaking below the minor flood level of 7.00 meters but will remain elevated through the weekend.
• Mackenzie River at Coolmaringa: Moderate flooding is currently occurring.
• Dawson River at Theodore Weir: Flooding has eased, with the river currently at 6.92 meters and falling, remaining below the minor flood level of 8.00 meters.

Timeline

The alert is effective immediately and is expected to remain relevant through March 20, 2026. Moderate flooding at Baralaba is likely to persist until Wednesday, while minor flooding at Yaamba is expected to continue until Thursday. Rockhampton will see elevated river levels through the upcoming weekend.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised to take the following safety 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 ahead to avoid driving on flooded roads.
• Monitor the ABC and local media for updates, as the situation can change quickly.