Moderate Flood Warning Issued for Normanton and Gilbert River Catchments in Queensland

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 (IDQ20879). This is the 60th flood warning issued for this event, following recent heavy rainfall over the catchment areas.

Affected Areas

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

• Normanton: Currently experiencing moderate flooding.
• Glenore Weir: Moderate flooding occurring.
• Yappar River: Moderate flooding occurring.
• Lower Walker Creek at Burke Development Road: Major flooding is easing but remains significant.
• Gilbert River Catchment: Elevated river levels and areas of flooding reported across the region.

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.
• For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.
• Monitor local media and visit www.disaster.qld.gov.au/warnings for local management advice.

Expected Conditions

• Norman River at Normanton: The river is currently at 4.50 meters and rising slowly. It is expected to peak near 4.60 meters during Wednesday and remain above the moderate flood level of 4.00 meters for several days.
• Burke Development Road: The river level at Lower Walker Creek is falling but remains approximately 0.90 meters above the bridge deck.
• Glenore Weir: The river level was recorded at 13.11 meters and steady as of 11:00 am Wednesday.
• Gilbert River at Rockfields: The level was 3.45 meters and steady as of late Wednesday morning.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 12:12 pm AEST on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Moderate flooding is expected to persist at Normanton for the next few days. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 4:00 pm AEST on Friday, March 20, 2026.