Version 1.1 April 2026 – see the PDF version<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This flood guide is for people in the areas of Launceston not protected by levees. Even if your home is not flooded, everyone around Launceston would be impacted by a major flood in the city. This guide also covers minor and moderate flooding, plus flash flooding in all areas of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parts of Launceston can flood from the<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also some minor waterways that can flood properties and roadways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Launceston\u2019s levees reduce flood risk for many areas along the major rivers. However, there is no guarantee the levees will withstand a major flood. Experiences in other countries show that levees can fail, both gradually and suddenly. If the levees fail, low lying parts of the city may flood quickly. In major floods, people in the levee protected areas should evacuate in case<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please see the related flood guides for the levee protected areas of<\/p>\n\n\n\n These guides for the levee protected areas have important information about<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the North and\/or South Esk Rivers may reach certain heights, these areas will have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rivers can flood some areas outside the levee protected areas. High tides can also increase water levels in areas closer to the River Tamar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more detailed flood maps, see www.launceston.tas.gov.au\/Emergency-Management-Hub\/1.-Understand-your-risk\/Flood<\/a> to<\/p>\n\n\n\n Flash flooding is flooding that happens very soon after heavy rain falls. There can often be little warning aside from a general severe weather warning. There are many minor waterways around Launceston that can flood quickly. Low-lying areas that can flood due to flash flooding or overland flow include parts of<\/p>\n\n\n\n If there is very intense rain, there can be storm water run-off that can affect buildings and roads in any area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For information about flooding in surrounding areas, see nearby related guides for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Launceston area has a long history of flooding. Since European settlement<\/p>\n\n\n\n BoM \u0e2d\u0e2d\u0e01 \u0e40\u0e1d\u0e49\u0e32\u0e23\u0e30\u0e27\u0e31\u0e07\u0e19\u0e49\u0e33\u0e17\u0e48\u0e27\u0e21 <\/strong>when predicted weather might cause floods in the area. A Flood Watch may:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0e1b\u0e31\u0e0d\u0e2b\u0e32 BoM \u0e1b\u0e23\u0e30\u0e01\u0e32\u0e28\u0e40\u0e15\u0e37\u0e2d\u0e19\u0e20\u0e31\u0e22\u0e19\u0e49\u0e33\u0e17\u0e48\u0e27\u0e21 <\/strong>with specific flood heights for the South Esk and North Esk Rivers. Flood gauges along the rivers give warnings of<\/p>\n\n\n\n High tides can also add to flooding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bureau will issue Minor, Moderate or Major flood warnings when the North Esk or South Esk Rivers are likely to reach certain heights. The table below also shows the trigger levels for SES to issue evacuation warnings due to flooding from these rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n 2.7 mAHD<\/strong><\/p>\n 80 m\u00b3\/s<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 3.6 mAHD<\/strong><\/p>\n 200 m\u00b3\/s<\/td>\n 4.9 mAHD<\/strong><\/p>\n 419 m\u00b3\/s<\/p>\n Approx. 20% AEP<\/td>\n 6.1 mAHD<\/strong><\/p>\n 800 m\u00b3\/s<\/p>\n About 2% AEP<\/p>\n Newstead Levee Protected Area (LPA)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 128.2 mAHD<\/strong> approx. 420 m\u00b3\/s<\/p>\n > 20% AEP<\/td>\n 129.9 mAHD<\/strong> approx.<\/p>\n 1500 m\u00b3\/s<\/p>\n Approx. 10%AEP<\/td>\n 130.9 m<\/strong>AHD<\/strong> approx.<\/p>\n 2,000 m\u00b3\/s<\/p>\n Approx. 5% AEP<\/td>\n 2250 m\u00b3\/s<\/p>\n Between 2%-1% AEP<\/p>\n Invermay \/Inveresk Levee Protected Area<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 2500 m\u00b3\/s – Between <1% AEP<\/p>\n City \/East Launceston Levee Protected Area<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 3500 m\u00b3\/s – Between >1% AEP<\/p>\n Margaret Street Levee Protected Area<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n Notes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Riverine flooding and flash flooding information for communities and properties in Launceston outside the levee protected areas For levee protected areas, see the related flood guides for Version 1.1 April…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"parent":5531,"menu_order":253,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/flood-guide.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11132","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Launceston](\"https:\/\/d2tv960yzi0spr.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Launceston-flood-map-without-levee-protection-plus-coastal-inundation-724x1024.jpg\")
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Launceston levee protected areas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Launceston](\"https:\/\/d2tv960yzi0spr.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/2026\/05\/N-Esk-Launceston-above-levee-protected-areas-flood-map-724x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAreas that can flood outside the levee protected areas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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North Esk River surrounding low-lying areas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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South Esk and River Tamar low-lying surrounding areas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Other low-lying areas exposed to flash flooding\/ overland flow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Areas surrounding Launceston<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Norwood\/](\"https:\/\/d2tv960yzi0spr.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Norwood-St-Leonards-flood-map--724x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u0e04\u0e38\u0e13\u0e21\u0e35\u0e04\u0e27\u0e32\u0e21\u0e40\u0e2a\u0e35\u0e48\u0e22\u0e07\u0e15\u0e48\u0e2d\u0e19\u0e49\u0e33\u0e17\u0e48\u0e27\u0e21\u0e2b\u0e23\u0e37\u0e2d\u0e44\u0e21\u0e48<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e1e\u0e22\u0e32\u0e01\u0e23\u0e13\u0e4c \u0e04\u0e33\u0e40\u0e15\u0e37\u0e2d\u0e19 \u0e41\u0e25\u0e30\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e2a\u0e31\u0e07\u0e40\u0e01\u0e15\u0e01\u0e32\u0e23\u0e13\u0e4c\u0e02\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e2a\u0e33\u0e19\u0e31\u0e01\u0e07\u0e32\u0e19\u0e2d\u0e38\u0e15\u0e38\u0e19\u0e34\u0e22\u0e21\u0e27\u0e34\u0e17\u0e22\u0e32 (BoM)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n River gauge sites<\/strong><\/td>\n \u0e40\u0e25\u0e47\u0e01\u0e19\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e22<\/strong><\/td>\n \u0e1b\u0e32\u0e19\u0e01\u0e25\u0e32\u0e07<\/strong><\/td>\n Major flood<\/strong><\/td>\n Evacuation Critical Decision Points<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n North Esk River @ Corra Linn<\/strong><\/td>\n \n \n \n \n \n South Esk River @ Trevallyn Pond <\/strong><\/td>\n \n \n \n \n \n \u00a0<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/td>\n \n \n \u00a0<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/td>\n \n \n