Name: Torrential rain devastates north and northwest Queensland
Uploaded: 2026-01-01T06:19:51.543Z
Duration: 1 min 16 s
Description: Much of north and north-west Queensland has been hit by heavy rainfall, devastating local communities. Farmers in the McKinlay Shire fear some neighbours may have lost as many as 800 head of cattle.

Much of north and north-west Queensland has been hit by heavy rainfall, devastating local communities. Farmers in the McKinlay Shire fear some neighbours may have lost as many as 800 head of cattle.

Queensland

Northwest Queensland has been hit by ongoing heavy rainfall, causing significant losses to local cattle herds, with some farmers fearing up to 800 head lost in the McKinlay Shire. The persistent rain has led to widespread flooding, isolating communities for days and cutting off major roads, including the Bruce Highway near Garoo.

Coastal regions have also experienced intense rainfall, with the local airport recording 223mm, marking the wettest January day since 1998. Authorities report that enhanced onshore winds are contributing to the heavy rain, and further rainfall is expected, raising concerns about continued disruptions and additional losses.

Torrential rain devastates north and northwest Queensland

That's right Jade, we've heard from farmers in the McKinlay Shire, some of who fear some of their neighbours may have lost as many as 800 head of cattle. Rain has continued to fall in the northwest today. These photos are from a helicopter flight outside of Julia Creek yesterday. There are also concerns stock losses could be even more in other regions, but for some of those residents who decided, but some of those residents have decided to ring in their soggy New Years with a boat ride and some tubing too. This video was taken from near Julia Creek, the cooped up locals saying they've been housebound for 10 days. Roads continue to be cut off across the entire northwest, with areas further south such as Winton also experiencing heavy rainfall, but today it was the coast which bared the brunt of the heavy rain. The airport picked up 223mm, which was its wettest January day since 1998, by enhanced onshore winds that are converging or colliding over the northeast coast. And where we have those winds really crashing together, that really helps to enhance that rainfall and gives us this heavy to locally intense rainfall. More of that rain is expected to continue tonight and there have been reports this afternoon as well of some major road closures including the Bruce Highway between Townsville and Eyre, especially around that Garoo area where there is reports of flooding this afternoon. Okay thank you Lawrence.

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