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This brochure describes the flood warning system operated by the Australian Government, Bureau of Meteorology for the Condamine River catchment to Cotswold. 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.
The Flood RiskThe 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 FloodingRecords of large floods along the Condamine extend back as far as 1887 at Warwick with extensive records at several other locations on the main stream. Typically major floods occur on average every 2 years. The most significant floods occurred in 1942, 1950, 1956, 1975, 1976, 1983 (twice), 1988, 1996 and two very large floods two weeks apart in December 2010 and January 2011..
Flood ForecastingThe Southern and Western Downs Regional Councils, in conjunction with the Bureau of Meteorology operate an ALERT flood warning system for the Condamine River catchment. The network comprises anumber 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 Department of Natural Resources and Mines also operates a number of automatic telemetry stations throughout the catchment which provide data during floods. 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 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, Chinchilla on Charley's Creek and Dalby on Myall Creek. Local InformationThe 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 BulletinsThe 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 Local response organisations Internet/World Wide Web Telephone Weather
Interpreting Flood Warnings and River Height BulletinsFlood 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.
All heights are in metres on flood gauges. 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 ClassificationsAt 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.
The table below shows the flood classifications for selected river height stations in the Condamine River catchment to Cotswold.
All heights are in metres on flood gauges. (B) = Bridge (R) = Road 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: For the latest rainfall and river height conditions please use the following link: Latest rainfall and river heights For the latest rainfall and river height network map please use the following link: Network
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