FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM
for the
LOGAN & ALBERT RIVERS

Looking upstream at Beenleigh on the Albert River

Contained in this document is information about: (Last updated December 2023) Flood Risk Previous Flooding Flood Forecasting Local Information Interpreting Flood Warnings and River Height Bulletins Flood Warnings and Bulletins Flood Classifications Other Links

Flood Risk

The Logan River has a catchment area of approximately 3850 square kilometres and lies in the southeast corner of Queensland. The catchment extends from the Logan City-Beenleigh area in the north to the McPherson Ranges in the south on the Queensland-NSW border. The major tributaries are the Albert River and Teviot Brook. Smaller tributaries include Running, Christmas, Burnett, and Canungra Creeks in the headwaters. Major flooding is experienced in both rural and urban areas of the catchment although major flooding in the upper part of the catchment does not necessarily result in significant flooding in the lower catchment.

Scrubby and Slacks creeks in the lower reaches of the Logan River can be subject to flash flooding as well as backwater flooding during major river flood events. 

Previous Flooding

Records of large floods in the Logan-Albert Rivers extend back as far as 1887, and since then there have been several major flood events. The 2022 flood event resulted in the most significant flooding along the Logan River since 1974 (peaking above levels observed during ex-TC Debbie in 2017 on the lower Logan River), and the most significant since 2017 along the Albert River (where peaks were between those observed during the 2013 event associated with TC Oswald, and the 2017 event associated with TC Debbie). Severe floods have occurred in the upper reaches of the Logan River in February 1976, January 1974, and February 1991.

Flood Forecasting

The Bureau of Meteorology provides a flood warning service for the Logan and Albert River catchments as detailed in the Queensland Service Level Specification: Queensland Service Level Specification v3.4 (bom.gov.au).

The Logan and Scenic Rim councils as well as SEQ Water and the Bureau operate an ALERT radio telemetry network of Flood warning stations throughout the Logan and Albert River (including Slacks and Scrubby Creek) catchments. These rainfall and river height stations regularly send data via radio telemetry and this system provides early warning of heavy rainfalls and river rises throughout the catchment and enables more accurate and timely flood warning and forecasts. 

Flood Warnings, River Height Bulletins and other weather-related data is available on the Bureau's Web page at http://www.bom.gov.au. 

Local Information

The Logan City Council and Scenic Rim Regional Council are able to provide further information on flooding in your area of the Logan and Albert River catchments.

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 Logan and Albert River catchments - it contains the flood gauge heights of the more significant recent floods.

Historical flood heights for all river stations in the Logan and Albert River catchments 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 Logan and Albert River catchments.

All heights are in metres on flood gauges. (B) = Bridge (A) = Approaches 

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 located at: