Issued: 12.45pm, Thursday 5 March 2026
Next update: 2pm, Friday 6 March 2026 or as the situation changes.
Cairns Region Local Disaster Management Group advises people in the Cairns Regional Local Government Area to MONITOR CONDITIONS for severe weather that is approaching.
In a life-threatening situation, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
For non-life-threatening flood and storm emergency assistance, contact SES on 132500, 132500.qld.gov.au, or the SES Assistance Qld app on Android or iOS.
Sand and sandbags for mitigating flood risk are available from Cairns Region transfer stations during normal hours.
What are we expecting?
Decreasing chance of a tropical cyclone forming near the North Tropical Coast and the Bureau of Meteorology has cancelled the cyclone advice.
Tropical low 29U will continue with its west-southwest track towards the north Queensland coast during Friday.
Impacts still expected:
Heavy rainfall and locally intense rain, causing flash flooding and dangerous driving conditions with potential landslide risk.
Strong winds with gusts up to 90 km/h may develop about Cairns, through Friday.
Separate flood watch and marine warnings are available from the Bureau of Meteorology Queensland website.
What you need to do:
- Conserve Water. Fill up containers and the bath with clean water for drinking in case the water supply is cut off.
- Find out how to get ready for severe weather at the Get Ready Queensland website (Get Prepared).
- If living near water ways, preparing your home for risk of surface water inundation.
- Drive with extreme caution and in accordance with conditions.
- If it is flooded forget it.
- Park your car under cover and away from trees, powerlines, and flood risk.
- Secure and store loose outdoor items, such as outdoor furniture, trampolines and roofing material.
- Prepare for potential power outages.
- Review your usual transport routes and consider possibility of isolation with low lying bridges and roads.
- Share this information with friends, family, and neighbours.
If you find it hard to move quickly or have special medical needs
- Use your Person-Centred Emergency Plan now if you have one.
- Make sure you have medication close by and accessible.
- If anyone in your house uses powered medical equipment, like a dialysis machine or ventilator, decide now How you will manage/where you will go in case you lose power.
- Call your support person or service to organise transport if you need to leave. Leaving early is safer than waiting.
If you are a tourist, visitor, camper or caravanner:
- Campers and caravanners should ask the campground owners whether your site/grounds flood.
- Check road conditions and plan your route should you need you leave.
- Be ready to move if the situation gets worse.
- Check your surroundings of water catchments and monitor for flash flood.
