Media Statement - Festive Weather System Update #12

Published on 04 January 2026

The following to be attributed to Hinchinbrook Local Disaster Management Group Chair, Ramon Jayo, Mayor of Hinchinbrook Shire Council:

• Outlook remains similar as per yesterday and the day before.
• Storms and periods of heavy rain developing on the ranges late in the day and steady drift towards our coast, until being stonewalled by coastal convergence somewhere along our coastline.
• Where the convergence zone is by day is difficult to determine till it happens. But that’s where the big rain is, as the system stops and drops on top without moving.
• You can see it on the radar when it happens.
• Friday night it was on top of us, hence the big rain. Last night saw the zone establish south of us, but there is a definite risk that the zone could return north again at any time.
• This will be the scenario and pattern until at least next Tuesday according to BOM.
• The risk to us now is modelling suggesting an increased amount of heavier rain and storms more inland into the Herbert upper catchment than we have experienced so far.
• We have seen a slight increase in rainfall in the upper catchment now for the past two nights, but thankfully it remains a bit drier up there so no real big runoff has occurred yet. We just have to watch and see.
• A reminder that a minor flood warning for the Herbert River remains in place, and my previous posts have indicated what that means for us.
• We will just continue to watch and see.