A sodden community may have some reprieve from days of a deluge but the floodwaters are forecast to continue rising.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes amid widespread severe flooding in northern Australia.

Further north in Ingham, a rural town of about 4,500 people, the waters had most likely flooded “well north” of 100 homes, Mr Crisafulli said in a separate interview with national broadcaster ABC.

Townsville residents have been cautiously told they can begin returning to their homes as the city appeared to "dodge a bullet" with easing rainfall.