North Queenslanders are moving to higher ground on what is expected to be the worst day of a catastrophic flood disaster that's displacing thousands of people.

Rivers and creeks are bursting their banks and dams are overflowing as a massive monsoonal deluge that's dumped more than the annual rainfall in a week continues.

It is causing flash flooding and land slips in a disaster area that stretches 700km from Cairns to Mackay.

Townsville enduring highest floods in 20 years. Bureau advises rain could last until the end of next week. Local councils and emergency services on scene and well prepared. Listen to local warnings. pic.twitter.com/mJDNQEqxYO — Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) January 30, 2019

More massive falls are expected on Saturday in disaster-declared Townsville, which is at the epicentre of the one-in-100 year event.

There have been 38 rescues in the area and emergency services helped 80 people move to a place of safety.

Swift water rescue crews are continuing to help people move through the flooded streets and more than 400 army personnel have helped with sandbagging.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the next 24 to 48 hours "are crucial," as she urged people in the area to heed warnings.

AAP

Bruce Gunn from Bureau of Meteorology expects the peak in the rainfall to recur on Saturday night and continue into next week.

"There's several more days to go in this flood event," he said.

About 100 Townsville homes were evacuated near the bulging Ross River dam, which was at 200.06 per cent capacity at 0900 AEST despite efforts to let more water out.

READ MORE Qld big wet causes flooding, landslips

There are no suggestions that it cannot hold the volumes.

Dozens of homes have been swamped since the flooding began with schools and businesses shut, thousands displaced and evacuation centres opened.

State Disaster Coordinator Bob Gee urged people to seek safe places and said there were more than enough police out there checking people's abandoned property.

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On Saturday morning, people in eight areas had been texted with warnings to urgently move to higher ground.

These include Bohle River, Saunders Creek and Stoney Creek - including the suburbs Deeragun, Jensen and Burdell - Black River, Blue Water, Beach Holm, Yabulu and Toolakea.

Further north, coastal communities on the Gulf of Carpentaria are preparing for the highest tides of year and gale force winds.