From all reports the storm surge from the disastrous 1887 cyclone flooded almost all of Burketown. Only the highest part of town near where the Council Office is currently located, escaped the waters from the Gulf. A copy of a 1918 report to the Queensland Parliament from the Department of Harbours and Rivers Engineer refers to the sea rising to 5.5 metres above the highest spring tide level at the Albert River Heads. This level is about 8 metres above Australian Height Datum (AHD). The storm surge arrived at 7pm.