FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM
for the
HERBERT RIVER

Herbert River at Halifax, March 1997 Flooding in the aftermath of Cyclone Joy (Photo: The Herbert River Express)

Contained in this document is information about: (Last updated September 2009) Flood Risk Previous Flooding Flood Forecasting Local Information Herbert ALERT System Flood Warnings and Bulletins Interpreting Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins Flood Classifications Catchment Map

Flood Risk

Previous Flooding

Since records commenced in early 1900s, major floods have occurred regularly in the Herbert River. Major floods usually occur in the wet season from January to March, but smaller floods have occurred in April and December. The figure below shows the significant flood peaks which have occurred at the Ingham Pump Station and Gairloch, the reference gauge for flooding in Ingham, since records began.

Flood Forecasting

Local Information

The Hinchinbrook Shire Council and the Tablelands Regional Council are able to provide further information on flooding in your area of the Herbert River catchment.

Herbert ALERT System

Flood Warnings and Bulletins

The Bureau of Meteorology issues Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins for the Herbert River catchment regularly during floods. They are sent to radio stations for broadcast, and to local Councils, emergency services and a large number of other agencies involved in managing flood response activities. Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins are available via :

Local response organisations
These include the Councils, Police, and State Emergency Services in the local area. 

Internet/World Wide Web

Telephone Weather

Interpreting Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins

Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins contain observed river heights for a selection of the river height monitoring locations. The time at which the river reading has been taken is given together with its tendency (e.g. rising, falling, steady or at its peak). The Flood Warnings may also contain predictions in the form of minor, moderate or major flooding for a period in the future. River Height Bulletins also give the height above or below the road bridge or causeway for each river station located near a road crossing. 

One of the simplest ways of understanding what the actual or predicted river height means is to compare the height given in the Warning or Bulletin with the height of previous floods at that location. 

The table below summarises the flood history of the Herbert River catchment - it contains the flood gauge heights of the more significant recent floods.

Historical flood heights for all river stations in the Herbert River Floodwarning network, as shown on the map, are available from the Bureau of Meteorology upon request.

Flood Classifications

At each flood warning river height station, the severity of flooding is described as minor, moderate or major according to the effects caused in the local area or in nearby downstream areas. Terms used in Flood Warnings are based on the following definitions.

Major Flooding : This causes inundation of large areas, isolating towns and cities. Major disruptions occur to road and rail links. Evacuation of many houses and business premises may be required. In rural areas widespread flooding of farmland is likely. Moderate Flooding : This causes the inundation of low lying areas requiring the removal of stock and/or the evacuation of some houses. Main traffic bridges may be closed by floodwaters.  Minor Flooding : This causes inconvenience such as closing of minor roads and the submergence of low level bridges and makes the removal of pumps located adjacent to the river necessary.

Each river height station has a pre-determined flood classification which details heights on gauges at which minor, moderate and major flooding commences. Other flood heights may also be defined which indicate at what height the local road crossing or town becomes affected by floodwaters. 

The table below shows the flood classifications for selected river height stations in the Herbert River catchment. 

The above details are correct at the time of preparingthis document. Up-to-date flood classifications and other details for all flood warning stations in the network are at:

Catchment Map showing the Herbert River flood warning network

For further information, contact:
The Regional Director, Bureau of Meteorology, GPO Box 413, Brisbane Q 4001