North Queensland is being hit hard by wild weather, with torrential rain closing roads and even triggering a dangerous landslide.
As a tropical cyclone threat looms off the coast of Cairns, the region has already been hammered by massive downpours. Some areas have seen more than 300mm of rain, with The Boulders recording a whopping 346mm.
Flooding has caused major disruptions, shutting down parts of the Bruce Highway and leading to a landslide on Kuranda Range Road. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands district, warning that more flash flooding could be on the way.
A surface low off the coast of northeast Cairns is fueling the relentless rain, with another 240mm possible in the next 24 hours. The bureau is also keeping an eye on an active monsoon trough moving into the region, increasing the chances of more heavy rainfall—and possibly a cyclone. Right now, the tropical low off Cairns has a 25% chance of developing into one.
Queensland Police are expected to provide updates on the unfolding situation later today.
Meanwhile, it's not just the rain causing chaos—other parts of the state are sweltering in extreme heat. The Gulf Country, North West, and Channel Country districts are dealing with a heatwave, with temperatures soaring into the low- to mid-40s. Brisbane and Townsville are set to hit 32 degrees, while Mackay, Cairns, Toowoomba, Surfers Paradise, and Noosa Heads will reach around 30 degrees today.
Stay safe and keep an eye on weather updates if you're in the affected areas!
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