Flood levels from Tropical Cyclone Alfred aftermath to peak in Ipswich on Sunday
06 March 2025
Potential flooding across Ipswich is not expected to reach its peak until early Sunday, according to latest information from the Bureau of Meteorology.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said while the worst of the wind and rain from Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to be Thursday through Saturday, water levels will continue to rise.
“The Bureau of Meteorology has said rapid river level rises and flash flooding are expected across many creeks, associated with the heaviest rainfall. Widespread minor to major riverine flooding is possible. That includes the upper and lower Brisbane River, including creeks in Ipswich and Brisbane,” Mayor Harding said.
“The general forecast states isolated flooding could develop from overnight Wednesday, with more widespread flooding likely from overnight Thursday into Friday, continuing into early next week.
“At this stage, the level of flooding is uncertain, given the unpredictable nature of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Rainfall predictions have been anywhere between a cumulative 45mm to 826mm over a seven-day period from today.”
Mayor Harding said to help the community with its preparations, Council has released new flood modelling based on current Bureau of Meteorology forecasts, which shows where flooding may occur as a result of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
“I encourage residents to carefully consider the latest flood modelling for Ipswich, and use this to assist with their disaster preparations,” Mayor Harding said.
“The modelling shows properties that could potentially be affected by storm surge or flooding. However, residents should note that this may change in the coming days with the changing weather conditions so it’s important to stay up to date as this event unfolds.
“The flood modelling is now available at Ipswich City Council’s disaster dashboard page.
“Whatever the total rainfall, the Bureau of Meteorology has told council that the flood peak for the Bremer River will likely be early Sunday morning. Unfortunately, it is too early to predict what sort of levels, but we can assure the public that we are ready to respond.”
Local Disaster Management Group Chair Councillor Andrew Antoniolli encouraged residents to stay up to date with local weather and emergency information in the coming days.
“This flood watch means that people living or working along rivers and creeks should monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings. As always, we encourage our community to prepare for any potential flooding. And remember: If it's flooded, forget it,” Cr Antoniolli said.
“Council has been distributing sand and sandbags from five locations over the past few days. Hopefully these measures will assist in alleviating some of the issues our residents will face with rising water levels.
“We experienced major floods in February and May 2022 so the impacts and possible devastation are still fresh in our minds. The Ipswich community showed tremendous resilience to recover from those floods and I am sure residents will be ready for everything mother nature throws at us again.
“I encourage residents to keep up to date with information by checking the Ipswich Disaster Dashboard for updates.”