Moderate Flood Warning Issued for Lower Balonne River and Balonne River Minor in Queensland

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Moderate Flood Warning for the Lower Balonne River and Balonne River Minor, along with a Minor Flood Warning for the Bokhara River. This is Flood Warning Number 5, issued under warning ID IDQ20833.

Affected Areas

The warning covers several geographic regions in Queensland, specifically targeting:

• St George: Expected to reach moderate flood levels.
• Dirranbandi: Moderate flooding likely along the Balonne River Minor.
• Hebel: Minor flooding possible along the Bokhara River.
• Whyenbah: River levels are currently close to major flood levels.
• Warroo: The main flood peak passed this area late Thursday evening.

What You Should Do

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

• Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater, as it is extremely dangerous.
• Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and all waterways.
• Obey all road closure signs and plan ahead to avoid driving on flooded roads.
• Monitor the ABC and local media for the latest updates, as the situation can change quickly.

Expected Conditions

• St George: The river is likely to peak near the moderate flood level of 8.00 metres on Friday evening. Levels are expected to remain high into Saturday before gradually easing as outflows from the Beardmore Dam decrease.
• Dirranbandi: The Balonne River Minor was recorded at 4.23 metres and rising as of Friday afternoon. It is expected to exceed the moderate flood level (4.30 metres) and may reach 4.50 metres during Saturday.
• Hebel: The Bokhara River is currently steady at -0.03 metres but may exceed the minor flood level (1.00 metre) early next week.
• Rainfall: No significant rainfall is forecast across the catchment for at least the next few days.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 1:28 pm AEST on Friday, March 20, 2026. Moderate flooding is expected at St George and Dirranbandi through Friday evening and Saturday. Minor flooding at Hebel is anticipated to begin early next week. The current warning remains active with an expiry time set for March 23, 2026.