A critical flood warning gauge at Cairns Airport is back online after Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology installed new water-level radar technology, restoring more accurate flood forecasting for Far North Queensland communities.
The Cairns Airport station, which monitors the Barron River, was damaged during Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023 and could no longer provide reliable data for flood forecasting. Repairing the site was a high priority for the bureau’s Flood Warning Infrastructure Network (FWIN) Program, given its importance for forecasting and community safety.
Rather than replacing the damaged equipment with the same technology, the FWIN Program used the opportunity to trial a new approach. In December 2025, it installed its first water-level radar at the site, restoring the station and returning detailed flood forecasting for the Barron River to service. The gauge now sends real-time water-level data to the bureau, helping forecasters issue more accurate and timely flood information during extreme weather.
Most water-level gauges use sensors positioned in or near the water, which can be damaged during flood events or affected over time by sediment buildup and changing river conditions. The new radar system measures water levels remotely from above the river surface.
The bureau said the approach offers several advantages, including improved safety for field teams by reducing the need to work near the water – which is particularly relevant at sites with known crocodile habitats – as well as a simpler installation process requiring minimal ground disturbance and no major civil works or excavation. The technology and its elevated position are also less vulnerable to environmental impacts, helping to maintain a stronger and more reliable data record over time.
Following the success of the Cairns Airport installation, the FWIN Program has identified nine additional sites where the radar technology will be implemented, expanding improved flood monitoring and field safety across the network.
With the gauge back in service, forecasters can again use real-time data to support flood forecasts and warnings for the Barron River, providing more accurate and timely information for residents and visitors during flood events. The bureau said reliable flood data remains a key part of Australia’s flood warning network, helping emergency services, councils and communities prepare for severe weather.
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