Brace for more rains, floods - BoM

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued a 'flood watch' for coastal catchments from Ingham to Daintree in Queensland, as it forecasted further rainfall to lash across the state's northernmost region.

According to the weather bureau, the rainfall is expected to be significantly lower than the recent widespread, heavy falls, which brought major flooding on the Tully, Murray, and Herbert Rivers.

But with around half the catchments in the state making it into the flood warnings this month, conditions are primed for renewed river-level rises and flooding, said Victoria Dodds, Queensland flood services manager.

"The heaviest falls will be further north and significantly lower than that of last week,” Dodds said. “As a result we're only anticipating river-level rises above the minor flood level, but conditions can change so it's important to stay tuned for warnings."

From Sunday to Tuesday, daily rainfall rates of between 50 to 100mm are expected north of Ingham, with isolated heavier falls of up to 150-200mm possible with thunderstorm activity, BoM said.

"In the Gulf, major flood levels have peaked at Walkers Bend on the Flinders River and are easing,” Dodds said. “While flood levels are generally easing, we are still in the wet season and the northern monsoon is in a more active phase."

The weather bureau continues to monitor activity on the monsoon trough for any chance of cyclone development.