FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM
for the
BRISBANE RIVER BELOW WIVENHOE DAM
TO BRISBANE CITY

This brochure describes the flood warning system operated by the Australian Government, Bureau of Meteorology for the Brisbane River below Wivenhoe Dam to Brisbane City. It includes reference information which will be useful for understanding Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins issued by the Bureau's Flood Warning Centre during periods of high rainfall and flooding.

Brisbane City, Wednesday afternoon on the 12th of January 2011, before the Thursday morning peak.

Contained in this document is information about: (Last updated November 2017) Flood Risk Previous Flooding Flood Forecasting Local Information Brisbane River  ALERT System Flood Warnings and Bulletins Interpreting Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins Flood Classifications Other Links

Flood Risk

The Brisbane River catchment covers an area of approximately 15,000 square kilometres of which about half is below Wivenhoe Dam. The Lockyer-Laidley Valley drains into the Brisbane River just downstream of Wivenhoe Dam near Lowood. The second major tributary, the Bremer River, flows into the Brisbane River at Moggill. Heavy rains in these areas can cause severe flooding of rural districts in the Lockyer and Bremer Valleys and along the Brisbane River. Severe flooding of the Cities of Ipswich (refer to brochure for the Bremer River) and Brisbane has occurred on several occasions. Although Wivenhoe Dam significantly reduces the frequency of flooding in Brisbane City, major flooding can still occur.

Flooding in the Brisbane City area can also be caused by local creeks including Oxley, Norman and Bulimba Creeks on the southside, and Moggill and Enoggera Creeks in the northern and western suburbs.  During intense rainfalls, the suburban creeks rise very quickly and can cause significant flooding of streets and houses.

Previous Flooding

Flood records for Brisbane extend back as far as the 1840's and indicate that the city has a long history of flooding. The largest flood of the 20th century occurred in January 1974, rising to a height of 5.45 metres on the Brisbane City Gauge at the river end of Edward Street. The flood caused widespread damage in Brisbane, affecting at least 8,000 properties. The most recent major flood occurred in January 2011, when the river peaked at 4.46 metres. Although lower than 1974, this flood also caused widespread property damage. 

Flood Forecasting

The Bureau of Meteorology, in association with the South East Queensland Water Corporation (SEQWater) and the City Councils of Brisbane and Ipswich (BCC and ICC), operate a flood warning system for the Brisbane River basin using data from the rainfall and river height network shown on the map.  The network is made up of manual rainfall and river height observers as well as automated telemetry equipment.

The flood warning system has been upgraded in recent years by the Bureau, SEQWater, Brisbane City Council, Ipswich City Council and Lockyer Valley Regional Council with the installation of many ALERT flood warning stations.  These provide early warning of heavy rainfalls and river rises throughout the catchment and enable more accurate and timely response to impending river and creek flooding throughout the Brisbane Valley.

Local Information

Your local council is responsible for the detailed interpretation of flood warnings into depths and areas of inundation for your local area and the management of flood response activities as a part of its counter disaster reponsibilities. 

Brisbane River ALERT System

The Brisbane River ALERT flood warning system was completed in the early to mid 1990's as a co-operative project between the Bureau of Meteorology, the South East Queensland Water Corporation, the Brisbane City Council and the Ipswich City Council. The system comprises a comprehensive network of rainfall and river height field stations located throughout the Brisbane Valley and in the Brisbane and Ipswich metropolitan areas. They report via VHF radio to base station computers located in SEQWater, Brisbane and Ipswich Council offices and the Bureau of Meteorology in Brisbane. The field stations send reports for every one millimetre of rainfall and every 50 millimetre change in river height. 

The base station computers located in the SEQWater and Council offices collect the data and have software that displays it in graphical and tabular form. The data is also received by the Bureau's Flood Warning Centre where it is used in hydrologic models to produce river height predictions. 

Flood Warnings and Bulletins

In consultation with the SEQWater and the relevant local councils, the Bureau's Flood Warning Centre issues Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins for the Brisbane River basin regularly during floods. They are sent to radio stations for broadcast, and to the 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 :  

Radio
Radio stations, particularly the local ABC, and local commercial stations, broadcast Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins soon after issue or as part of their news services. 

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

Internet/World Wide Web
Flood Warnings, River Height Bulletins and other weather related data is available on the Bureau's Web page at http://www.bom.gov.au . The Queensland Flood Warning Centre website is http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/flood .

Telephone Weather
Flood Warnings are available through a recorded voice retrieval system, along with a wide range of other weather related and climate information.

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 lower Brisbane River catchment below Wivenhoe Dam to Brisbane City. It contains the flood gauge heights for selected significant floods.

For further information, please refer to similar brochures issued for the Upper Brisbane River above Wivenhoe Dam and for the Bremer River.

Historical flood heights for all river stations in the Brisbane River flood warning 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.

Minor Flooding : Causes inconvenience. Low-lying areas next to watercourses are inundated. Minor roads may be closed and low-level bridges submerged. In urban areas inundation may affect some backyards and buildings below the floor level as well as bicycle and pedestrian paths. In rural areas removal of stock and equipment may be required. Moderate Flooding : In addition to the above, the area of inundation is more substantial. Main traffic routes may be affected. Some buildings may be affected above the floor level. Evacuation of flood affected areas may be required. In rural areas removal of stock is required. Major Flooding : In addition to the above, extensive rural areas and/or urban areas are inundated. Many buildings may be affected above the floor level. Properties and towns are likely to be isolated and major rail and traffic routes closed. Evacuation of flood affected areas may be required. Utility services may be impacted.

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 lower Brisbane River catchment below Wivenhoe Dam to Brisbane City.

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