Cuts to transport links including damage to numerous bridges, communication interruptions, electrical blackouts and water supply problems were experienced across wide areas.

[9] Radar imagery from Mornington Island depicted a well-defined low-level circulation with defined banding features wrapping into the centre.

Situated in a very moist air mass and over the warm waters of the Gulf, some intensification was expected before Oswald struck the Cape York Peninsula.

[9] Approximately 12 hours after being named, the storm made its second landfall north of Kowanyama with winds of 65 km/h (40 mph) and the final advisory was issued by the TCWC in Brisbane.

[12] Favourable upper-level conditions and ample moisture allowed the system to maintain its identity despite remaining over land for a prolonged period of time.

Severe weather warnings were also in place for much of the state, indicating the threat of heavy rains, destructive winds, and dangerous seas.

At approximately 1:00 pm, the first tornado struck the town of Bargara, which brought down power lines, tore off roofs and smashed windows.

[24] As of 29 January, the floods had claimed the lives of four people, including a three-year-old boy who died after being crushed by a falling tree at Gordon Park.

[37] During 29 January, Brisbane's main water treatment plant at Mount Crosby was shut down after the high levels of sediment and silt in the Brisbane River caused record turbidity levels, which resulted in Seqwater and Queensland Premier, Campbell Newman urging residents to conserve water and to only use it for "drinking, cooking and bathing".

[38] The Gold Coast Desalination Plant was engaged from standby mode to supplement supplies with 90 megalitres (3.2×10^6 cu ft) of water a day.

[20] An exclusion zone was set up by police in Bundaberg North because damaged buildings and infrastructure posed significant safety risks.

This was followed by further damage to the alternate cable north of Harlin late on 26 January, resulting in widespread failures of mobile, landline, ATM, EFTPOS, broadband services and the 000 Emergency response number.

[62] The rail network in South East Queensland was heavily impacted by the storms, with inner city Brisbane lines particularly affected.

[65] Alumina and liquified natural gas production in the state experienced minor impacts with operations returning to normal levels shortly after the wild weather had passed.

[67] The citrus industry in the Wide Bay–Burnett region was hit hard with losses totalling hundreds of millions of dollars, higher than the cost of the 2011 floods.

[68] In Moreton Bay, seagrass beds are expected to endure greater damage than from the 2011 floods, when is some place 80% of the seafloor vegetation was lost.

[69] Sediment flows from the Brisbane River were expected to be much higher in this flood, placing the bay's dugong population at risk.

[1] On 1 February Deputy Commissioner of Police, Brett Pointing APM, was appointed to oversee the recovery activities in the Bundaberg and North Burnett Regions.

[74] On 8 February it was announced the state and federal governments had reached an agreement concerning funding to avenge public infrastructure.

[75] The arrangement which also includes sporting, recreational and community facilities, means that infrastructure can be rebuilt to a higher standard so that it may withstand future disasters.

[54] In February 2013, more flash flooding occurred throughout Queensland[76] and New South Wales, further impacting the damage already created from Cyclone Oswald the previous month,[77] resulting in one death,[78] and the need for some evacuations.