Flood Risk in Thursday Island, QLD: 2026 Assessment
Flood Risk Score
8.5/10Thursday Island faces a high risk of flooding due to its low-lying coastal location and susceptibility to heavy rainfall events. Sea level rise and storm surges exacerbate this risk.
Key Facts
- Flood Risk
- Thursday Island faces a high risk of flooding due to its low-lying coastal location and susceptibility to heavy rainfall events. Sea level rise and storm surges exacerbate this risk.
- Trend
- increasing
- Suburb
- Thursday Island, QLD
- Overall Risk
- High
- Postcode
- 4875
- Highest high-risk exposure
- 20.4% of land (riverine flood)
Flood Risk Analysis
Thursday Island, located in Queensland, has a notable flood risk profile based on available data including proximity to waterways, elevation, and historical flood events. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) maintains river height and flood warning data for catchments across Queensland.
Thursday Island is surrounded by the Torres Strait, making it highly exposed to tidal influences and storm surges. Low elevation increases flood risk.
Thursday Island faces a high risk of flooding due to its low-lying coastal location and susceptibility to heavy rainfall events. Sea level rise and storm surges exacerbate this risk.
For a comprehensive property-specific flood assessment including address-level elevation data, flood overlay mapping, and insurance cost estimates, use the ClimateNest full analysis tool. General suburb data cannot replace a site-specific evaluation.
Thursday Island sits within ClimateNest's suburb-level hazard model for flood risk. 20.4% of the suburb's land area is mapped in high-risk flood zones and 70.6% in moderate-risk zones, based on the national hazard overlay. Exposure at this scale varies street by street, which is why an address-level check matters before you buy or insure a specific property in Thursday Island.
Thursday Island (postcode 4875) is tracked in ClimateNest's suburb hazard model, which maps the share of the suburb's land exposed to each hazard at high and moderate levels. The suburb's highest high-risk exposures are riverine flood (20.4% of land in high-risk zones), bushfire (14.5% of land in high-risk zones), surface flood (10.2% of land in high-risk zones). Exposure is not uniform across Thursday Island โ individual properties can sit well above or below these averages, so an address-level check is recommended before buying, selling or insuring.
Local Hazard Evidence
Historical Events
Heavy rainfall caused localized flooding on Thursday Island, impacting some residential areas.
Adaptation & Mitigation Actions
Coastal Protection Measures
ImmediateImplement coastal protection measures such as seawalls, revetments, and beach nourishment to reduce erosion and inundation.
Est. cost: High
Improved Drainage Infrastructure
Near-termUpgrade drainage infrastructure to manage increased rainfall and reduce the risk of flooding.
Est. cost: Medium
Heatwave Management Plan
ImmediateDevelop and implement a heatwave management plan to protect vulnerable populations during extreme heat events.
Est. cost: Low
Community Awareness Programs
Long-termConduct community awareness programs to educate residents about climate change risks and adaptation strategies.
Est. cost: Low
Council & Emergency Services
Explore Thursday Island Risk Reports
View other climate risk assessments for Thursday Island:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thursday Island at risk of flooding?
Based on available data, Thursday Island has a notable flood risk profile. Flood risk varies by address โ check your specific property for precise flood zone mapping and elevation data with ClimateNest.
What flood insurance costs can I expect in Thursday Island?
Insurance costs for flood cover in Thursday Island depend on the property's flood zone classification, elevation, and proximity to waterways. ClimateNest provides address-level insurance cost estimates based on your property's specific hazard exposure.
Does flood risk affect property values in Thursday Island?
Yes, flood risk can affect property values in Thursday Island. Properties in mapped flood zones may experience lower buyer demand, reduced valuations, and higher insurance costs. Lenders increasingly assess flood exposure as part of mortgage risk evaluation.
How does elevation affect flood risk in Thursday Island?
Elevation is a critical factor in flood risk. Properties at higher elevations within Thursday Island typically have lower flood exposure than those near waterways or in low-lying areas. Address-level elevation data combined with BOM flood mapping provides the most accurate picture.
What share of Thursday Island is exposed to high riverine flood risk?
ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 20.4% of Thursday Island in high-risk zones for riverine flood, with a further 70.6% in moderate-risk zones. Suburb-level exposure is not uniform โ individual properties can differ from these averages, so an address-level check is recommended.
Is Thursday Island Safe from Climate Risk?
Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Thursday Island, Queensland, covering flood, bushfire, sea level rise and more.
What A$69 could save you from
*Industry sources: ICA, APRA, RBA
Full report from A$69 ยท Australian addresses only ยท 8 hazard scores ยท Insurance trajectory ยท 2030 & 2050 projections