Moderate Flood Warning Issued for Norman and Gilbert Rivers; Normanton to Remain Flooded Through Weekend

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Moderate Flood Warning for the Norman River and a Flood Warning for the Gilbert River (Alert ID: IDQ20879). This update, issued at 1:03 pm AEST on Friday, March 20, 2026, indicates that river levels remain elevated across these catchments following recent heavy rainfall.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the Norman and Gilbert River catchments in Queensland. Specific locations impacted include:

• Normanton: Currently experiencing moderate flooding.
• Lower Walker Creek: Flooding at Burke Development Road, with water approximately 0.60 m above the bridge deck.
• Norman River Catchment: Including Yappar River and Glenore Weir.
• Gilbert River Catchment: Including Rockfields, Einasleigh River at Einasleigh, and Etheridge River at Roseglen.
• Regional Scope: A separate Flood Watch is also current for parts of the Cape York Peninsula and North Tropical Coast.

What You Should Do

Residents 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 travel to avoid flooded roads.
• Monitor the ABC and local media for further 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 management advice.

Expected Conditions

• Norman River at Normanton: The river is currently at 4.22 m and steady. It is expected to remain above the moderate flood level of 4.00 m throughout the weekend.
• Norman River at Glenore Weir: Currently at 12.51 m and steady.
• Lower Walker Creek: Levels are currently falling but remain above the bridge deck at Burke Development Road.
• Gilbert River at Rockfields: Currently at 3.26 m and steady.
• Einasleigh River at Einasleigh: Currently at 3.13 m and steady.
• Etheridge River at Roseglen: Currently at 2.18 m and falling.

Timeline

The alert is effective immediately. Moderate flood levels at Normanton are forecast to persist through the weekend. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next warning update by 4:00 PM AEST on Monday, March 23, 2026.