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Understand your flood, storm, heatwave and bushfire risk. Learn about flooding in Brisbane. Sign up for severe weather alerts.

Close-up of a woman's hand at a fair standing in front of a Brisbane Severe Weather Alert advertising A-frame. and pointing to Weatherzone app on smartphone.

Natural disasters and emergencies in Brisbane

Everyone visiting or living in Brisbane needs to be aware of the risk of severe weather and natural disasters.

Brisbane is a river city with a subtropical climate. This means you can experience intense storms in spring and in the hot, humid summer months. In winter, you can expect dry and mild conditions. 

Brisbane’s climate and unique landscape make it prone to severe weather events. Occasionally, these events cause natural disasters. 

Types of natural disasters

The most common types of natural disasters experienced in Brisbane include:

  • flooding from heavy rainfall
  • severe storms, hail and damaging winds
  • heatwaves
  • bushfires.

Knowing your risk can help you protect yourself, your family, your home and your business.

Use the tools on this page to check your risk so you can prepare for an emergency.

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Disaster recovery

Check your flood risk

Brisbane is naturally at risk of flooding due to its: 

  • location on the floodplain of the Brisbane River 
  • network of creek catchments
  • terrain featuring low-lying areas 
  • subtropical weather patterns, including a storm season which typically runs from September to March. 

Council’s Flood Awareness Map helps you understand your flood risk. It shows the likelihood of flooding on your property from different sources.

The Brisbane flood map is based on data from the latest flood studies and models endorsed by Council. 

The map:

  • covers the Brisbane Local Government Area
  • shows possible flood extents, based on the best data available to Council 
  • shows historic flood events
  • doesn’t show flooding in real-time. 

How to use the Flood Awareness Map

Before searching for a property on the Flood Awareness Map, it is important to understand the terms 'flood likelihood' and 'impact'.

The terms 'likelihood' and 'impact' are used by Council to explain the chances of floods occurring. These terms are used in the Flood Awareness Map, which is an awareness tool to display the probability of a flood occurring from one or more sources including creek, river and storm tide. It also shows the impact of overland flow flooding.

Once you have read this informaion, use the map to check your flooding risk.

  1. Search your property using your address, lot plan or suburb.
  2. Toggle the map layers to view the likelihood (very low – high) of different types of flooding. 
  3. Use the map layers to see if your property was affected by past flood events.
  4. View the legend and definitions to help you understand the map layers.  
Check your flooding risk

Visit the Bureau of Meteorology website for general information on floods and flood safety.

The Bureau of Meteorology has its own terms and conditions of use. Council makes no statements, representations or warranties about the accuracy, correctness, timeliness, completeness of fitness for any purpose or use of information contained on the Bureau of Meteorology’s website.

To the full extent permitted by law, Council excludes all responsibility and liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for: 

  • information contained on the Bureau of Meteorology website or any linked website
  • any decisions made or actions taken on the basis of such information
  • any losses, liability, damages, claims, expenses and costs a user may incur, suffer or sustain as a result of the information on this website or any linked website being inaccurate, erroneous or incomplete in any way for any reason.  

Types of flooding

There are 4 common types of flooding in Brisbane. Learn about the different flood types to understand:

  • causes of flooding in Brisbane
  • where and when flooding is likely to happen
  • floodwater behaviour.

Creek flooding is caused by heavy rainfall over or near a creek catchment. Run-off from houses and streets can also contribute by adding to the water already in the creek.  

River flooding can also impact creek levels. Floodwater can rise quickly and be very fast moving, and then recede quickly.  

Living in low-lying areas located close to a creek can increase your risk of flooding.

River flooding is caused by prolonged rainfall over the river catchment. Floodwater can rise very slowly.  

Flooding downstream can happen hours or days after the rain has stopped. High tides can exacerbate river flooding.  

The closer you live to the river, the higher your risk of flooding.

Overland flow flooding is caused when excess rainwater flows over land. This usually happens during heavy rainfall in storm season.  

Overland flow flooding is less predictable because it’s affected by localised rainfall, the landscape and urban features (e.g. roads, stormwater pipes, fences and other structures).  

It generally occurs quickly and lasts for short periods of time. 

Storm tide and high tide flooding is caused by rising sea levels associated with storm surges or full/new moon high tides.  

Flooding impacts low-lying areas and streets close to tidal waterways (Brisbane River and creeks) and foreshores. The closer you live to these areas, the higher your risk of flooding. 

Types of flooding in Brisbane video

>>Female voice: The Brisbane Local Government Area contains more than 4,000 kilometres of waterways.

Brisbane experiences flooding from four sources and it’s important to understand these and to be prepared. This will help you stay safe, confident and ready for flood.

Creek flooding in Brisbane occurs when there is prolonged rainfall over a creek catchment. Intense rainfall, over an already saturated catchment, during the summer storm season could also result in creek flooding.

River flooding occurs when the river reaches capacity and excess water flows over its banks or backs up through the drainage system as backflow. This happens when there is widespread and prolonged rainfall over the upper catchments of the Brisbane River and can lead to floods in adjacent creeks. River flooding can occur hours after the rain has stopped.

Overland flow is the most common type of flooding during the summer storm season in Brisbane and can be unpredictable. It is the stormwater run-off that travels over the land when there are heavy rainfall events. It’s fast-moving and generally lasts for a short duration.

Storm tide flooding happens when there are higher than normal sea levels caused by a storm surge and is more likely to occur when there is high tides or king tides. This type of flooding affects low-lying areas close to tidal waterways and foreshores.

Use Brisbane City Council’s Flood Awareness Map to view a property and understand the likelihood of flooding from these flood sources on a property or in a suburb.

Council’s Flood Information Online can help residents and visitors stay safe, confident and ready.

Other flooding hazards

Flash flooding is flooding characterised by fast-moving and rapidly rising water levels. It’s often caused by periods of intense rainfall and can develop within minutes or hours.

Dams in the Brisbane Local Government Area are designed to spill when the water level gets too high. This can lead to localised flooding and road closures. If you live downstream of a dam, you are at a higher risk of flooding from dam spills. 

For alerts on dam releases from Seqwater dams, visit Seqwater.

Backflow devices reduce the chance of water flowing back up stormwater drainage. Flooding from other sources can still occur where backflow devices are in place. This depends on the location and conditions.

Brisbane Severe Weather Alert

Brisbane's summer can be hot, humid and unpredictable. A fine, sunny day can turn into a heavy, thundering sky at a moment's notice. 

Storm season typically lasts from September to March. During this time, prepare for potential heavy rain, strong winds and other severe weather conditions. 

Subscribe to our alert service

You can prepare for storm season by signing up for our Brisbane Severe Weather Alert service. 

The free service sends you warnings if your nominated address is at risk of severe thunderstorms, destructive winds or potential flooding (including creek flooding alerts). 

Nominate an unlimited number of Brisbane addresses to receive alerts for your workplace, school, or  friends and family.

You can receive severe weather alerts by SMS, email or voice message. 

Before you subscribe, read the Brisbane Severe Weather Alert terms and conditions.

Register for weather alerts
information outline

Note

You can also view current weather warnings on the Bureau of Meteorology website.  

Creek flooding alerts

The Brisbane Severe Weather Alert service sends creek flood alerts in select locations at risk of creek flooding.

These alerts use information from flood gauges to trigger automatic warnings when waters rise to a certain level due to heavy rainfall, storms or tidal flooding.

It's common for creek alerts to be triggered when creek levels rise and fall quickly in heavy rainfall events or storms.

The service also includes specific river flood alerts in select locations along the Brisbane River. This includes alerts for flooded bridges in isolated communities in: 

  • Karana Downs
  • Kholo
  • Lake Manchester
  • Mount Crosby.

Use the map to view the creek flooding alert locations

Search by address using the search bar.

Click on a location for information on local flooding and the suburbs affected. 

Map legend

Grey: These areas are the first to receive alerts in flash flooding or tidal flooding events.

Purple: These areas receive creek flood alerts in larger scale flood events. 

Blue: These are areas receive alerts for river flooding when bridges and crossings are likely to flood. 

Red: These areas receive alerts if the Brisbane River floods.

Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Blunder Creek
  • Greater Durack area
View the latest river heights for Blunder Creek at King Avenue
 		 Durack, Inala, Willawong
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Blunder Creek
  • Greater Albion, Windsor area 
  • Albany Street Windsor

View the latest river heights for Breakfast Creek at Bowen Hills Rail

 Durack, Inala, Willawong
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Breakfast Creek
  • Greater Herston, Windsor area 
  • Northey Street Windsor 
View the latest river heights for Breakfast Creek at Bowen Hills Rail 
 		 Herston, Wilston, Windsor
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Brisbane River
  • Greater Hawthorne, New Farm area
View the latest river heights for the Brisbane River at Hawthorne
 		 Hawthorne, New Farm
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Brisbane River
  • Greater Brisbane City area
View the latest river heights for the Brisbane River at the City Gauge
 		 Brisbane City, Kangaroo Point, South Bank
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Brisbane River
  • Greater St Lucia, Yeronga area
View the latest river heights for the Brisbane River at St Lucia
 		 Fairfield, St Lucia, Yeronga
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Brisbane River
  • Greater Jindalee area
View the latest river heights for the Brisbane River at Boat Ramp Park
 		 Jindalee, Sinnamon Park
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Brisbane River
  • Greater Bellbowrie, Moggill area
View the latest river heights for the Brisbane River at Aitchenson Street East
 		 Bellbowrie, Moggill
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs

Brisbane River
  • Greater Karana Downs area
  • Colleges Crossing, Mt Crosby Weir Bridge and Mt Crosby Road Bridge (Ugly Gully)

View the latest river heights for the Brisbane river at:

For road conditions and to plan your journey visit Qld Traffic

 Karana Downs, Kholo, Lake Manchester, Mt Crosby
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs

Bulimba Creek
  • Greater Hemmant, Lytton area
  • Doughboy Parade Hemmant
View the latest river heights for Bulimba Creek at Doughboy Parade
 		 Hemmant, Lytton
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Bulimba Creek
  • Greater Carina Heights, Carindale area
View the latest river heights for Bulimba Creek at Old Cleveland Road 
 		 Carina, Carindale
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Bulimba Creek
  • Greater Mansfield, Mt Gravatt East area
View the latest river heights for Bulimba Creek at Edwards Park (Merion Place)
 		 Mansfield, Mt Gravatt East
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Bulimba Creek
  • Greater Upper Mt Gravatt, Wishart area

View the latest river heights for Bulimba Creek at Greenwood Street

 Upper Mt Gravatt, Wishart
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Cabbage Tree Creek
  • Greater Deagon area
  • Burralong Street Deagon
View the latest river heights for Cabbage Tree Creek at Braun Street
 		 Bracken Ridge, Deagon, Sandgate, Taigum
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Cabbage Tree Creek
  • Greater Carseldine, Fitzgibbon area

View the latest river heights for Cabbage Tree Creek at Pineapple Street

 Aspley, Carseldine, Fitzgibbon
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Cabbage Tree Creek
  • Greater Aspley, Bridgeman Downs area

Note: Gauge not installed yet

 Bridgeman Downs, Carseldine
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Cabbage Tree Creek                 
  • Greater Aspley, McDowall area
View the latest river heights for Cabbage Tree Creek at Old Northern Road
 		 Bridgeman Downs, Everton Hills, McDowall
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Cannery Creek and Pound Creek
  • Greater Banyo, Northgate, Nundah area
  • Bligh Street Northgate
  • Station Avenue Northgate
View the latest river heights for: 		Banyo, Boondall, Northgate, Nundah, Virginia
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Downfall Creek
  • Greater Geebung, Virginia area
View the latest river heights for Downfall Creek at Brickyard Road
 		 Chermside, Geebung, Virginia
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Downfall Creek
  • Greater Chermside West, Stafford Heights area
View the latest river heights for Downfall Creek at Everton Park
 		 Chermside West, Everton Park, Stafford Heights
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Enoggera Creek
  • Greater Kelvin Grove, Newmarket area
View the latest river heights for Enoggera Creek at Bancroft Park
 		 Kelvin Grove, Newmarket
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Enoggera Creek
  • Greater The Gap area
View the latest river heights for Enoggera Creek at Royal Parade
 		 Ashgrove, The Gap
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Ithaca Creek
  • Greater Bardon area
View the latest river heights for Ithaca Creek at Lugg Street
 		 Ashgrove, Bardon, Red Hill
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Kedron Brook
  • Greater Clayfield, Hendra area
View the latest river heights for Kedron Brook at Nudgee Road
 		 Clayfield, Hendra, Nundah
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Kedron Brook
  • Greater Gordon Park, Kalinga area
View the latest river heights for Kedron Brook at McCord Street
 		 Gordon Park, Kalinga, Kedron
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Kedron Brook
  • Greater Everton Park, Mitchelton area
View the latest river heights for Kedron Brook at Osbourne Road
 		 Everton Park, Mitchelton
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Little Cabbage Tree Creek
  • Greater Aspley, McDowall area
View the latest river height for Little Cabbage Tree Creek at Stringybark Drive
 		 Aspley, Bridgeman Downs, McDowall
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Lota Creek
  • Greater Ransome, Wakerley area
View the latest river heights for Lota Creek at Rickertt Road
 		 Gumdale, Ransome, Wakerley
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs

Moggill Creek
  • Greater Brookfield, Kenmore area
  • Fortrose Street Kenmore
View the latest river heights for Moggill Creek at Fortrose Street
 		 Brookfield, Kenmore, Kenmore Hills
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Norman Creek
  • Greater East Brisbane, Coorparoo, Woolloongabba area
  • Caswell Street East Brisbane
View the latest river heights for Norman Creek at Caswell Street
 		 East Brisbane, Coorparoo, Stones Corner, Woolloongabba
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Norman Creek
  • Greater Annerley, Tarragindi area
View the latest river heights for Norman Creek at Ekibin Park South (Arnwood Place)
 		 Annerley, Greenslopes, Tarragindi
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Norman Creek
  • Greater Holland Park West area
View the latest river heights for Norman Creek at Joachim Street
 		 Greenslopes, Holland Park, Holland Park West
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Oxley Creek
  • Greater Graceville, Tennyson area
View the latest river heights for the Oxley Creek mouth
 		 Corinda, Graceville
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs

Oxley Creek
  • Greater Corinda, Sherwood area
  • Cliveden Avenue Corinda
View the latest river heights for Oxley Creek at Corinda High
 		 Corinda, Sherwood
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Oxley Creek
  • Greater Archerfield, Willawong area
View the latest river heights for Oxley Creek at Ipswich Motorway
 		 Archerfield, Inala, Willawong
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Oxley Creek
  • Greater Acacia Ridge area

View the latest river heights for Oxley Creek at Beatty Road

 Acacia Ridge, Willawong
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Pullen Pullen Creek
  • Greater Pinjarra Hills, Pullenvale area
View the latest river heights for Pullen Pullen Creek at Pinjarra Road
 		 Bellbowrie, Pinjarra Hills, Pullenvale
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Rocky Waterholes
  • Greater Moorooka, Rocklea, Salisbury area
  • Muriel Avenue Moorooka
View the latest river heights for Rocky Waterholes at Muriel Avenue
 		 Moorooka, Rocklea, Salisbury
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Rocky Waterholes
  • Greater Coopers Plains, Sunnybank area
View the latest river heights for Stable Swamp Creek at Musgrave Road
 		 Archerfield, Coopers Plains, Sunnybank
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs

Stable Swap Creek
  • Boobook Street Rocklea
  • Franklin Street Rocklea
View the latest river heights for Stable Swamp Creek at Marshall Road
 		 Archerfield, Rocklea
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Wolston Creek
  • Greater Sumner, Wacol area
View the latest river heights for Wolston Creek at Sumner
 		 Sumner, Wacol
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Wynnum Creek
  • Greater Wynnum area
  • St Catherines Terrace Wynnum
View the latest river heights for Wynnum Creek at Byrneside Street
 		 Manly West, Wynnum
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs

Wynnum Creek
  • Greater Wynnum area
  • Tingalpa Street Wynnum West
View the latest river heights for Wynnum Creek at Byrneside Street
 		 Wynnum West
Catchment
(or sub-catchment)		 Alert area and telemetry gauge Suburbs
Zillman Waterhole
  • Greater Boondall, Virginia area
  • Parthenia Street Boondall
View the latest river heights for Zillman Waterhole at F. Sleeman Park
 		 Boondall, Geebung, Virginia
Register for creek flooding alerts

Be prepared for heatwaves

A heatwave occurs when the maximum and minimum temperatures are unusually hot over 3 or more days. 

Extreme heat in Brisbane is most likely to occur between November and March, but can occur at any time.  

Although everyone can be at risk of heat-related health problems, those most vulnerable include babies and young people, and the elderly. 

Heatwave warnings are available from the Bureau of Meteorology. You can also get hot weather health and safety advice from the Queensland Government.

Be bushfire aware

The risk of bushfires is highest during the hotter and drier months of the year.

South East Queensland’s bushfire season typically runs from August to December. This can vary depending on the condition of local bushland, long-term climate conditions and other weather events.

Search your postcode 

People living in bushland or rural residential areas are at higher risk of bushfires. However, smoke, embers and burning materials can impact urban areas, too.

You can check your area’s bushfire risk using the Queensland Fire Department’s postcode checker.

mdi information outline1

Note

Queensland Fire Department has more information on how to assess your fire risk.

Planned burns 

We conduct planned burns to maintain the health of our bushland and lessen the risk of wildfires.

Planned burns reduce the amount of materials that can fuel fires, such as dead wood. They are sometimes called hazard reduction burns.

Frequently asked questions

There are steps you can take to prepare your home, family and business for emergencies in Brisbane. These include checking your risk, preparing an emergency kit and having an emergency plan in place.

Council’s Flood Awareness Map was updated in December 2023. The Brisbane flood map is continually updated with the latest flood studies and models endorsed by Council.

The Queensland Government has a range of tools and resources to help assess your risk. Visit Get Ready Queensland.