Floodwater rises as monsoon deluge drowns far north
Communities in Australia’s far north can be isolated for weeks as a monsoon system inches across the outback dumps hundreds of millimeters of rain.
As the monsoon system stretching from the Northern Territory to the Gulf of Queensland brings heavy rainfall, rising floodwaters are inundating the road network and isolating small communities.
A severe weather warning is in place for almost the entire north of the state, from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the east coast.
Six-hour totals of up to 260mm are possible, with forecasts of up to 700mm as the weather system moves slowly across the country.
Queensland authorities are preparing for the worst, with emergency services ready to send supplies and animal feed to communities as the system gradually strengthens from the south to the south-east.
“As we head into the next few days, the monsoon low and monsoon trough are moving very slowly and rain is expected to continue in the same area for a long time,” Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jonathan How said. he said.
“However, we will see a gradual change over the next few days as rainfall moves south and east,” he said.
He warned that the worst was yet to come as communities became isolated.
“In terms of flooding, we expect to see the impact be quite long-lasting and communities will be deprived of water for days, if not weeks.
Tropical #CycloneHayley, currently category 1, will impact the Dampier Peninsula off the western Kimberley coast of #WesternAustralia on Tuesday. Updated: Monday 29 December 2025 08:55 AWST. Latest track map: https://t.co/7MUFKbQx4I pic.twitter.com/c1Ivg0uABC— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) December 29 2025
Tropical Cyclone Hayley is expected to cross WA’s Kimberley coast on New Year’s Eve.
Major flood warnings have been issued for the Flinders River and moderate flood warnings for the Cloncurry River and surrounding areas.
Sandbagging stations have been opened in the Mt Isa and Hinchinbrook areas and local people have been urged to take additional precautions.
Warnings continue for the Barkly and Carpentaria basins in the Northern Territory.
Across the country, Tropical Cyclone Hayley has formed as a category one system threatening Western Australia.
Cyclone Hayley is located approximately 500km northwest of Broome and is expected to strengthen into a category two system before crossing the Kimberley coast early on New Year’s Eve.
Communities in the Kimberley can expect increasing showers and thunderstorms, heavy rain, possibly damaging winds and storm surge as the cyclone approaches.
