ABC North Queensland

17/01/2026

They built full lives away from home, but Hughenden was always part of the plan for Wendy and Veronica

Veronica and Wendy made a pact as teenagers to move back to their hometown to retire together. More than 40 years later they have kept their promise.

14/01/2026

It’s a skill in short supply, but racquet stringing has taken Townsville’s Shane Mikic to some of the world’s biggest tennis tournaments for decades.

Behind the scenes of the world's most elite tennis tournaments there is a team of people working on keeping the majors' racquets well strung.

14/01/2026

It’s the stage musical that gets audiences dancing in the aisles!

“Mamma Mia” returns to the Townsville Civic Theatre this Thursday night for a special two-week season.

Featuring the timeless pop classics of ABBA the show is filled with awesome music, fabulous costumes and brilliant energy from a local cast and crew.

Sandra Neal (who plays Rosie), Melissa Donges-Curro (Donna), and Jodie Bell (Tanya) popped in to chat to Michael Clarke about the return of the much-loved classic.

Will you be unleashing your inner Dancing Queen? 💃🕺

12/01/2026

Townsville was treated to a spectacular Sunday sunset after ex-Cyclone Koji left the region. 🌅
📸 Denise Farrow captured this photo from Kirwan and shared it with us.
Did you capture a photo of the sunset yesterday? If so, share below!

10/01/2026

🌀 EX Tropical Cyclone KOJI ⏰ Sun 11 Jan 6 pm 👉 This post won't be updated again. Keep up to date with BOM warnings in your area: ab.co/BOMQLD

⚠️ Koji has moved inland west of Proserpine. It will begin to take a west-northwesterly track over the northern Central Highlands and Coalfields district tonight.

☔ A BOM severe weather warning is current - HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING now between Ayr and St Lawrence and adjacent inland today.
⚬ Locally INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING possible for coastal and elevated areas between Bowen and St Lawrence.

💧Moderate flooding occurring along the Don River

🌊 Higher than normal tides

👉 Stay informed and stay out of flood waters

📻️ Listen to ABC North QLD 630 AM, or on ABC listen: abc.net.au/listen/live/northqld

ℹ️ ABC Emergency: ab.co/ABC_QLD
⚬ BOM: ab.co/BOMQLD

📷 IMAGE: Sat 10 Jan - satellite imagery from Himawari-9. (Source BOM)

09/01/2026

Stunning pink and purple skies in North Queensland tonight.
📷 Did you get a snap?

09/01/2026

🌧️ NORTHERN BEACHES FLOOD PREPARATIONS

Residents of Townsville’s northern suburbs are being urged to prepare now for heavy rain and possible flooding this weekend.

Heavy to locally intense rainfall at the weekend may lead to Bluewater Creek reaching moderate flood levels.

Townsville’s Local Disaster Management Group — a multi-agency group established by the Townsville City Council — has advised people living at Bluewater, Bluewater Park, Toolakea and Saunders Beach to take precautions now.

How can you prepare?

✅ Make sure your emergency kit is prepared
✅ Create an evacuation plan
✅ If you are camping, pack up your campsite and be ready to move to higher ground

ℹ️ Sand and sandbags are available from Bluewater Community Centre, Mount Low Parkway, Lou Litster Park and Ross River Dam.

For more updates:

📻️ Listen to ABC North QLD 630 AM, or on ABC listen: abc.net.au/listen/live/northqld

ℹ️ ABC Emergency: ab.co/ABC_QLD
​​​​​​​⚬ Bureau of Meteorology: ab.co/BOMQLDo

09/01/2026

ℹ️ SEVERE WEATHER COUNCIL CLOSURES

Townsville City Council is closing several facilities and services due to the forecasted severe weather this weekend.

Residents are urged to limit non-essential travel and prepare their homes.

The following council facilities will be closed:

❌ Ross River and Ross River Dam - closed from 6pm Friday to all recreational users.
❌ All waste facilities – closed Saturday & Sunday
❌ The Strand beaches and Riverway pools – closed Saturday & Sunday.
❌ Libraries, galleries and theatre – closed Saturday & Sunday.
❌ Community centres – closed Saturday, Sunday & Monday.
❌ Castle Hill Road and walking tracks, Mount Stuart Road– closed from 1pm Friday.
❌ Animal care and adoption centre – Closed Saturday (reopens Monday).
❌ Peggy Banfield Park and The Strand playgrounds – temporary closures Friday for shade sail removal.
❌ Open space bookings – closed Saturday & Sunday.

For more updates:

📻️ Listen to ABC North QLD 630 AM, or on ABC listen: abc.net.au/listen/live/northqld

ℹ️ ABC Emergency: ab.co/ABC_QLD
​​​​​​​⚬ Bureau of Meteorology: ab.co/BOMQLD

09/01/2026

Severe Weather ⛈️ Flooding & Tropical Low Update (12U)
⏰ UPDATED – Saturday 10 Jan
👉 Tropical Low 12U is forecast to strengthen to cyclone intensity before crossing the coast early Sunday. Heavy rain, damaging winds and dangerous flooding are likely.

🔶 Watch and Act ⏰ Issued by Burdekin LDMG
⚬ Giru and surrounding areas: residents are advised to MONITOR CONDITIONS for possible major flooding.

☔ What the weather is doing:
⚬ Tropical Low 12U approaching from the Coral Sea
⚬ Heavy to locally intense rainfall developing today
⚬ 24‑hour totals 200–275 mm likely, isolated falls >400 mm
⚬ Damaging wind gusts along coastal and exposed areas
🌊 Higher than normal tides along the coast

👉 Flood Warnings current:
⚬ Major flooding possible: Herbert River (from early Sunday), Haughton River at Giru
⚬ Moderate flooding possible: Don River at Bowen
⚬ Minor–moderate flooding possible on Ross, Bohle and Black Rivers
❗ Dangerous flash flooding and rapid river rises possible

📻️ Listen to ABC North QLD 630 AM, or on ABC listen: abc.net.au/listen/live/northqld

ℹ️ ABC Emergency: ab.co/ABC_QLD
​​​​​​​⚬ Bureau of Meteorology: ab.co/BOMQLD
📸 Image: Friday 9 Jan - satellite imagery from Himawari-9. (Source BOM)

08/01/2026

⛈️ Prepare now for severe weather - A tropical low is approaching the North Tropical Coast, with heavy to locally intense rainfall and damaging winds expected from Friday and into the weekend.

✅ For tips on how to prepare, go to:

Having a plan will keep you safe and help avoid damage to your home and property.

07/01/2026

The Ross River Dam is flowing, as councils across north Queensland prepare for possible heavy rainfall and damaging winds in the coming days.
𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰.

ℹ️ Details on the Severe Weather Warning here: ab.co/BOMQLD
📻 Listen to ABC North QLD on Townsville 630 AM, or stream: abc.net.au/listen/live/northqld
ℹ️ ABC Emergency incident map: ab.co/ABC_QLD
Bureau of Meteorology warnings: ab.co/BOMQLD

04/01/2026

⛈️ Severe Weather & Flood Update ​​​​​👉 Risk of localised heavy rainfall continues today over the northeast coast moving north and mostly offshore by Tuesday. There are no severe weather warnings current on Monday morning.

💧Flood Warnings
⚬ Herbert River: Moderate flooding plikely at Halifax, minor flooding occurring at Abergowrie Bridge.
⚬ Bohle River: Minor flooding now eased at Mt Bohle.
⚬ Haughton River: Flooding no longer occurring.

📷 What does it look like at your place?

🔶 Burdekin LDMG - Flood Watch & Act
📍Monitor Conditions: Jerona

🔶 Flinders LDMG - Flood Watch & Act
📍Monitor Conditions: Flinders LGA

ℹ️ Downgraded to Flood Advice - Stay Informed: Giru and Surrounds

📻️ Listen to ABC North QLD 630 AM, or on ABC listen: abc.net.au/listen/live/northqld

ℹ️ ABC Emergency: ab.co/ABC_QLD
​​​​​​​⚬ Bureau of Meteorology: ab.co/BOMQLD

📸 The Julia Creek region was one of the worst affected by flooding. (Supplied: Sean Dillon)