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Chinchilla and Dalby residents warned of flooding as rivers surge

Massive falls overnight have left the Condamine River and Myall Creek surging on the Western Downs, with residents on flood watch and more rain expected.

David Littleproud speaks on flooding in South West Queensland

The weather bureau has issued a major flood warning for Chinchilla, after a massive deluge overnight saw the Condamine surge in height.

The Condamine is currently at 9.77m at the Chinchilla Weir, just shy of the major flood level of 10m.

Charleys Creek at Chinchilla is also sitting at 4.37m, with localised flooding already impacting the town.

Resident Dianna Yates told the Chinchilla News she’d recorded 102mm of rain in her gauge yesterday, with another 17mm overnight.

“We’re going to need a boat soon,” she said.

“I have been here four years and have never seen rain so heavy and constant.”

Photo from Chinchilla resident Dianna Yates of flooding at the weir.
Photo from Chinchilla resident Dianna Yates of flooding at the weir.

Much of the flooding near her house was being caused by Charleys Creek, with water banking up into the connected Rockys Creek.

Despite the constant warnings to stay out of floodwaters, and multiple swift water rescues needing to be performed across the state, Ms Yates said people had been walking through the currents.

LIVE - Major flooding for Chinchilla Weir today and Moderate flooding for Charleys Creek. More storms expected. Follow Us! - Chase with Us! Seth and Pete for GerkiesStormChasing

Posted by Gerkies Storm Chasing on Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Dalby is also on watch as Myall Creek continues to rise.

The region copped more than 60mm in the 24hrs to 9am, capping off one of the wettest November‘s on record, with 219mm falling during the month.

Multiple roads across the region are cut off by floodwaters.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a flood warning for much of southwest Queensland at 9am.

BOM warned multiple flood peaks from separate rainfall events over the past few weeks continue to move through the Condamine-Balonne River system, with further renewed rises occurring from recent rainfall.

Further river level rises are possible throughout the catchment from any additional showers and thunderstorms over the next few days.

In the Condamine river, 50-120 mm of rainfall has fallen since 9am Tuesday causing renewed rises particularly in the upper Condamine River and around Charleys and Myall Creeks.

BOM warned further rainfall is forecast for the region which may cause additional rises.

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/chinchilla/chinchilla-and-dalby-residents-warned-of-flooding-as-rivers-surge/news-story/851a543097b1e1610b53d315e3e919da