Wet Season and Cyclone Prep for Mackay Drivers

This guide is for Mackay region drivers who want their vehicle ready before storms, floods or a cyclone arrive. It covers the electrical checks worth doing early, how to keep phones and essentials powered, Queensland's floodwater advice, and what to do if water gets into your car.

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Mackay's wet and cyclone season

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, most of Mackay's rain falls from December to March, and the tropical cyclone season runs from December to April. The Bureau also notes that the Pioneer River has a long flood history, with the highest recorded flood in February 1958. See the Bureau of Meteorology's Mackay climate page for details.

Mackay has felt serious cyclones before. The Queensland Government's Get Ready Queensland program recalls the January 1918 cyclone, which brought destructive winds and a storm surge and damaged or destroyed most homes in the town. Building standards and warnings are far better today, but the message is the same: prepare before the season, not when a warning is issued.

Electrical checks to do before December

When a storm is on the way, every auto electrician and parts counter gets busy at once. Doing these checks in spring means your vehicle is ready to go if you need to leave or run errands in a hurry:

• Get the battery tested. A tired battery is the last thing you want when you need to drive somewhere quickly.
• Check every light, including headlights, brake lights, indicators and hazard lights. Heavy rain cuts visibility for everyone.
• Replace worn wiper blades and check the washer pump works.
• Make sure the demister and rear window heater work, as windows fog quickly in humid, rainy weather.
• Look for cracked headlight lenses or seals that let water in.
• Check the spare fuses in your fuse box are present and the right ratings.

Your car as a backup power source

During and after a cyclone or severe storm, power can be out for some time. Your vehicle can help keep phones and a radio running, but use it wisely:

• Keep a 12V phone charger and cable in the car.
• Never run an engine in a closed garage or carport that is enclosed on several sides. Exhaust fumes can kill.
• Running accessories with the engine off drains the starting battery. A portable power bank or jump starter pack is safer for charging phones.
• Don't plug household appliances into a cheap inverter without checking it can handle the load. Our guide on choosing and installing an inverter explains the limits.
• Fill the fuel tank early, as fuel pumps may not work during a power outage.

If it's flooded, forget it

The Queensland Government's message about floodwater is simple: If it's flooded, forget it. It warns that a car can be swept away in as little as 15 centimetres of water, that a 4WD with a snorkel is not enough protection, and that you shouldn't rely on your vehicle's wading depth. Flash flooding can happen without any road closure sign, so don't assume a road is safe just because it isn't signed.

Before you drive in wet weather, check road conditions on QLDTraffic or by calling 13 19 40. The Queensland Government explains how on its check road conditions before you drive page. Advice and services can change, so check the current information each season.

What water does to vehicle electrics

Modern vehicles have control modules, sensors and connectors in low places, including under seats, in the footwells and around the engine. Floodwater, especially salty or muddy water, gets into connectors and starts corrosion that can cause faults weeks or months later.

If water enters the engine air intake, the engine can be badly damaged. On hybrids and EVs, a flooded high-voltage system is dangerous. Stay clear and leave it entirely to licensed professionals.

If your car has been in floodwater

If your vehicle has been sitting in water, don't try to start it. Starting a car with water in the engine or electrics can turn a repairable job into a write-off. Instead:

• Contact your insurer first and follow their process.
• If it's safe and you know how, disconnect the battery to reduce the risk of short circuits.
• Take photos of the water line inside and outside the vehicle.
• Have it towed to a workshop for inspection rather than driving it.
• Treat any hybrid or EV that has been in water as dangerous and keep away from it.

Smaller water problems after heavy rain

Not every wet-season fault comes from a flood. Heavy rain alone can cause trouble. A blocked sunroof drain or door seal can let water into the cabin, wet carpet can hide damp wiring, and water inside a headlight or tail light housing can blow globes and corrode the socket. Indicators that flash fast after a storm often point to a failed globe or a corroded connection. Our guide on why indicators flash fast explains the usual causes.

Deal with leaks early, dry the cabin properly and get any warning lights read. Small faults are cheaper to fix before corrosion spreads.

Local help when you need it

For flood or storm damage to your home, Queensland's State Emergency Service can be contacted on 132 500 or through the SES Assistance app. In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000). Mackay Regional Council runs an emergency dashboard with local alerts and road information during events.

If your street is prone to flooding or storm tide, work out ahead of time where you would move your car to higher ground, and do it early rather than when water is already rising. Mackay Regional Council publishes flood maps and evacuation zones that can help you plan. A car that stays dry is far cheaper than one that needs its electrics stripped, dried and checked.

Once the weather clears, a mobile auto electrician can check batteries, lights and wet wiring, whether you're near the coast in Bucasia or in the city around Mackay.

Parts for this job

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Questions Mackay drivers ask

When is cyclone season in Mackay?

The Bureau of Meteorology says the tropical cyclone season for the Mackay area runs from December to April, and most rain falls between December and March. The best time to prepare your vehicle is before December, while auto electricians and parts suppliers aren't flooded with last-minute work. Check the Bureau's warnings during the season.

Can I drive through shallow floodwater in a 4WD?

The Queensland Government's advice is no. Its If it's flooded, forget it campaign warns that a car can be swept away in as little as 15 centimetres of water, and that a 4WD with a snorkel isn't enough protection. You can't see what's under the water or whether the road has washed away. Turn around and find another route.

Should I start my car after it's been in floodwater?

No. Starting it can draw water into the engine and short out electrical systems, which can make the damage far worse. Contact your insurer, take photos, and have the vehicle towed for inspection. If it's a hybrid or EV, keep well clear, because a flooded high-voltage system is dangerous and is only for licensed professionals.

Can I use my car to charge phones during a blackout?

Yes, with care. A 12V USB charger works, but running accessories with the engine off can flatten the starting battery. A portable power bank or jump starter pack is a better option. If you idle the engine, do it outdoors in open air, never in a closed garage, because exhaust fumes can be deadly.

Need an auto electrician in Mackay?

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