2025 Finale: Flooding, power failure and fireworks
Flooding update
Rivers have risen and roads have been shut down across the region as the Douglas Shire faced flash flooding, power outages and isolation with roads, including the Captain Cook Highway, cut as a result of torrential rain.
Douglas has so far been spared from the widespread flooding hitting Northern and Western Queensland, with falls of up to 300mm in a day isolating pastoralists and threatening livestock.
Reports suggested at least 248mm of rain recorded in Mowbray, 124mm in Port Douglas and 152mm in Mossman from midnight Monday to mid afternoon but midday, while official figures Official figures show Wangetti recorded 77mm of rainfall on Monday, while 57mm fell in the Whyanbeel Valley across the day.
An update on Monday on the Rex Range and Bushy Creek pages suggested 400mm of rain had fallen and while flooding was impacting roads, it had not created significant issues. Captain Cook Highway was reopened after a short closure, with motorists warned to drive to conditions.
And at least 285 people in the Euluma Creek and Julatten area are without power as a result of emergency measures.
The Douglas Disaster Management dashboard is updating regularly with residents urged to refer to it for flood warning and road closure advice as the Bureau of Meteorology warns of continued rainfall and possible flash flooding extending to New Years Eve on Wednesday.
Sandbag filling stations for concerned locals are detailed on the site.
Newsport readers yesterday responded to images posted by Kim Christensen of a flooded Mowbray Valley and warnings to motorists to not risk floodwaters.
“It’s actually been renamed to Mowbray Island,’’ said Christopher Saint.
While Solar Whisper of Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruises offered sound advice: “And remember in flooded waters crocs move around , they will go back home once the water recedes.’’
Concerns also were raised by Flick Boucher about the dashboard no longer being hosted on an App. The Douglas Disaster Dashboard is readily loaded by visiting the link: Dashboard
The official BOM weather forecast for the region across today is: Cloudy. Very high chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm. Heavy falls which may lead to flash flooding possible. Winds east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the evening. Daytime maximum temperatures 24 to 30.
While there remains concern for flash flooding on Wednesday, plans are at this stage still in place to ring in 2026 with two spectacular waterfront fireworks displays at Dickson Inlet, Port Douglas, with the Tin Shed’s Family Day from 5.30pm.
Fireworks will be staged at 8pm and again at midnight to see out 2025 and enter 2026.
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