General News
9 January, 2026
Cyclone threat as water curbs remain
RESIDENTS across the Cairns region are being urged to closely monitor weather conditions as Tropical Low 12U brings a moderate risk of tropical cyclone development later Friday or Saturday, while Level 4 water restrictions remain in place amid flooding concerns and pressure on the water supply.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, a Severe Weather Warning, along with Flood Watches and Warnings, is current, with increased risks of rain, flooding, wind and marine hazards affecting the northeast Queensland coast.
Tropical Low 12U is a deepening monsoon low located to the northwest of Willis Island and is forecast to move in a general south-south-west direction towards the coast during Friday and Saturday. The Bureau said the risk of the system developing into a tropical cyclone is expected to peak Friday night and Saturday.
At the same time, Cairns remains under Level 4 water restrictions after heavy rainfall caused high turbidity in the Freshwater Creek catchment, repeatedly forcing water treatment plants offline and leaving the region reliant on stored reservoir water.
Cairns Regional Council chief executive officer Ken Gouldthorp said Copperlode Dam was likely to top or spill, shutting down treatment operations and forcing the region to rely entirely on reservoirs.
“Thousands of megalitres of water is coming through,” Mr Gouldthorp said. “We don’t want to get to a situation where we run out and we have to put out ‘don’t consume’ orders.”
He warned that releasing untreated water would create “months of challenges, including boil water alerts”, urging residents to strictly limit use to essential needs.
Cairns deputy mayor Brett Olds said Level 4 restrictions meant water use was limited to “drinking, cooking and washing”, with short showers encouraged.
“We’ve got about 72 reservoirs in Cairns and we only usually have about two and a half days’ worth of water at any given time,” Cr Olds said.
He said while dams were sitting at about 98 per cent full and reservoir capacity had risen to around 85 per cent overnight, further rain could worsen turbidity and shut the treatment plant down again.
“When the water gets dirty and stirred up, it’s like chocolate mud. You can’t put mud through your pool filters and you can’t put it through our filters either,” Cr Olds said.
Flooding concerns are also growing south of Cairns, with the Cairns Local Disaster Management Group issuing a Watch and Act alert for Peets Bridge, parts of Goldsborough, low-lying areas of Gordonvale and parts of Babinda, including East Russell and Eubenangee.
The Bureau has warned moderate flooding is likely at Peets Bridge on the Mulgrave River, with further rises possible.
Mr Gouldthorp said disaster arrangements had moved to “lean forward”, with crews rostered over the weekend and emergency services ready to scale up if conditions deteriorate.
For more information:
Follow the council disaster dashboard here www.disaster.cairns.qld.gov.au
Listen to ABC Far North Cairns and surrounds 801 AM and 106.7 FM //
Babinda and surrounds 95.7 FMFor power outage information, go to ergon.com.au/network.
Check the latest weather, warnings, rainfall, and river heights at the Bureau of Meteorology Queensland website.
Check road closures at the QLD Traffic website or call 13 19 40 for phone service.
Check disruptions to public transport at the Translink website.
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.
If your life is in danger, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
