FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM
for the
CONDAMINE RIVER WARWICK TO COTSWOLD

Flooding in Linthorpe Creek, January 1996 Photo courtesy of Wimera Pty Ltd

Contained in this document is information about: (Last updated May 2016) The Flood Risk Previous Flooding Flood Forecasting Local Information Flood Warnings and Bulletins Interpreting Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins Flood Classifications Other Links

The Flood Risk

The Condamine - Balonne River system is one of the tributaries of the Murray - Darling River system and is one of the most important river systems in Queensland in terms of agriculture.  The headwaters of the Condamine River rise in the Border Ranges near Killarney and flow approximately 1200 kilometres through Queensland before entering New South Wales. 

The annual rainfall distribution ranges from over 1000 mm in the ranges near Killarney to only 400 mm over the lower parts of the catchment near Hebel. 

Large scale flooding within the main towns such as Warwick, Dalby and Chinchilla is not a regular occurrence and does not overshadow the widespread effects of flooding on individual homes and properties and the loss and damages suffered in rural areas. Damage to fencing, pumping equipment, machinery and loss of stock through drowning result in significant losses during major floods. 

Major floods do not necessarily develop in the headwater areas of the catchment but can result from heavy rainfall in any of the large tributaries which enter the main Condamine River. Under these circumstances flood forecast lead times may be short.

Previous Flooding

Records of large floods along the Condamine extend back as far as 1887 at Warwick with extensive records at several other locations on the mainstream.  Major floods occur regularly, on average every 2 years. The worst flooding occured in 1942, 1950, 1956, 1975, 1976, 1983 (twice), 1988, 1996 and two very large floods two weeks apart at the end of 2010 and start of 2011.

Major floods generally only occur in the first half of the year although records indicate that they may also occur in late spring.

Flood Forecasting

The Southern and Western Downs Regional Councils, in conjunction with the Bureau of Meteorology operate a flood warning system for the Condamine River catchment. The ALERT network consists of automatic rainfall and river height stations which regularly forward data via radio telemetry to base stations located at the Council offices in Warwick, Stanthorpe and Dalby and the Bureau's Flood Warning Centre in Brisbane. The system provides early warning of heavy rainfall and river rises in the catchment and enables more accurate and timely flood warning and forecasts. The balance of the network consists of volunteer rainfall and river height observers who forward observations by telephone when the initial flood height has been exceeded at their station. The Department of Natural Resources and Mines also operates a number of automatic telemetry stations throughout the catchment which provide data during floods.

The Bureau's Flood Warning Centre issues Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins for the Condamine River catchment to Cotswold during flood events. Quantitative forecasts are issued whenever river heights are expected to reach minor flood levels at Warwick, Pratten, Tummaville, Cecil Plains, Ranges Bridge, Chinchilla Weir, and Condamine Town on the main river and Chinchilla on Charley's Creek.

Local Information

The Southern Downs Regional Council, Western Downs Regional Council and the Toowoomba Regional Council are able to provide further details of flooding in your area. 

Flood Warnings and Bulletins

The Bureau of Meteorology issues Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins for the Condamine River to Cotswold 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:

Radio
Radio stations, particularly the local ABC, and local commercial stations, broadcast Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins soon after issue. 

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 Condamine River catchment to Cotswold - it contains the flood gauge heights of the more significant recent floods.

Historical flood heights for all river stations in the Condamine River catchment to Cotswold 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.

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

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: