Qld weather: Brisbane, Gold Coast in floods firing line after Gympie, Sunshine Coast slammed
South East Queensland’s big wet is set to intensify, with Brisbane and the Gold Coast next in the firing line after flooding in the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions derailed a freight train and left a woman dead and a man missing.
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South East Queensland’s big wet is set to intensify, with Brisbane and the Gold Coast next in the firing line after a massive rain event claimed one life and left another person missing in the Gympie and Sunshine Coast regions.
South East Queensland was smashed by intense rainfall from a severe, slow-moving weather system overnight, with 424mm falling in one location.
A freight train derailed at Traveston south of Gympie, and more than 100 flood rescues have been conducted in the Sunshine Coast and Gympie areas today, including 31 swiftwater rescues.
A search for a missing motorcyclist in Gympie has entered its 16th hour after he was reported missing about 1.15am.
A freight train has derailed at Traveston, south of Gympie, after the tracks were drenched by extreme rain. Some parts of the region received more than 400mm overnight, with a further deluge forecast later this week. https://t.co/uc19ppRVBQ#qldweather#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/fmdIFm0GpG
— 7NEWS Sunshine Coast (@7NewsSC) February 23, 2022
It is understood the missing rider was travelling from work about 1am, but he never made it home.
The 54-year-old man’s bike was found 200m from the Green Creek Bridge about 7.30am, leading police to believe he may be located somewhere near Cedar Pocket Rd.
Emergency services were able to recover another car and two people from the area but the motorcyclist had not been found.
Water police, swiftwater rescue teams, divers, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and a rescue helicopter continue to search riverbanks and creeks.
And the body of a 63-year-old local woman was found in her submerged Honda CRV at Belli Park in the Sunshine Coast hinterland just after 8am.
Emergency services were called about 4.45am to reports of the vehicle being stuck, but the rescue team was unable to reach the woman due to fast-rising floodwaters
Police are investigating the woman’s death and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
A Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson said showers were likely to increase in intensity across South East Queensland into the evening.
While the rain had eased for now, people in Brisbane and the Gold Coast can reportedly expect heavier rainfall as soon as Wednesday night and possibly into Thursday.
While timing was uncertain, these areas can potentially expect heavy to locally intense rainfall.
A severe weather warning issued just after 5pm said heavy rain was set to impact some parts of the southeast, with areas east of Gympie and Ipswich forecast to possibly have as much as 180mm of rain over a six-hour period, triggering potentially life-threatening flash flooding.
Damaging winds with gusts up to 90km/h were also forecast to impact areas including the southeast coast, east of Maroochydore, Ipswich and the Gold Coast as early as Thursday morning.
Earlier, Queensland Rail suspended passenger train services between Caboolture and Gympie North due to flooding over the tracks while a third-party freight train has derailed between Traveston and Cooran stations about 3.20am.
It is understood the train derailed carrying general freight with one driver on board who was believed to have escaped with only minor injuries.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said two crews were called to the scene after the train derailed due to floodwater on the train line.
The swift water rescue tech team were eventually able to reach the driver and he was removed safely from the cab at 6.05am.
Queensland Ambulance crews were assessing the driver by 6.25am after he was walked to safety by two firefighters.
It’s understood the train is on its side, overhead live wiring has become exposed and diesel remains.
Cooran Community Store owner Elyse Patten said residents reported seeing a crane trying to access the derailed train.
“When we arrived, crews were 300m away and were unable to contact driver because of the flooding,” she said.
“Queensland Rail were able to control some of the power and crews waited for floodwater to subside.
“We were able to liaise with Queensland Rail and they advised us that the train had rolled, driver was in the cab not trapped but (couldn’t get out) due to rising flood.”
Emergency services remain at the scene monitoring a diesel leak and electrocution concerns with surrounding flood water.
Queensland Rail Acting CEO Scott Riedel said buses are replacing trains between Caboolture and Gympie North stations this morning following the line disruptions.
“When the derailment occurred, Queensland Rail immediately suspended rail traffic and called emergency services to attend,” Mr Riedel said.
“The single occupant and driver of the train is shaken but thankfully has no major injuries.”
The Bureau of Meteorology is expecting rainfall to re-intensify later today and continue into the southwest, warning of a risk of life-threatening flash flooding.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that heavy and intense rainfall will return to the southeast tonight, with the potential to affect Brisbane and Gold Coast areas.
Storms are forecast to redevelop across Warwick, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Maroochydore, Gympie, Stanthorpe, Caboolture, Coolangatta and Ipswich, again producing high rainfall totals of up to 300mm.
But the bureau said the eye of the storm would not necessarily return to the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions, with the potential focus further south.
Weather bureau meteorologist Helen Kirkup said if storm activity moved south this afternoon, Brisbane and the Gold Coast could see flood conditions similar to those experienced by the Maroochydore on Tuesday night.
“The trickiest part is the coastal trough is going to push showers and storms on the coast and it’s not entirely black and white as to where the storms focus will be,” Ms Kirkup said.
“If it focuses further south, Brisbane and the Gold Coast will get the worst of it.
“It’s not 100 per cent that it will come back to the Maroochydore area again tonight.”
Heavy rainfall could lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding with six-hourly rainfall totals up to 300mm forecast to affect parts of the southeast.
The weather bureau issued an alert just after 4pm for scattered storms that may impact parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central West, Channel Country, Wide Bay and Burnett, Maranoa and Warrego, and Darling Downs and Granite Belt forecast districts.
The heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding, with Wide Bay and Burnett, Darling Downs and Granite Belt areas forecast to be impacted.
Another alert was to be issued shortly after 7pm..
Earlier, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warned Queenslanders that the flood event could remain life-threatening over coming days.
“This has the potential to be a significant rainfall event for South East Queensland,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Locally intense rainfall is possible and since many catchments are now saturated, there is an increased risk of dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding over the coming days.
“Over the coming days some areas will also see a month’s worth of rainfall.
“There may be more road and school closures.”
Ms Palaszczuk told Parliament the intense rainfall experienced in the southeast overnight “woke her up,” acknowledging the extreme rainfall totals experienced in the Sunshine Coast.
“There has been intense rainfall throughout the Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast areas and in Brisbane,” she said.
“In some places, 300-400mm fell in a very short time with very little warning.”
Sunshine Coast police district officer Superintendent Craig Hawkins confirmed a woman had died overnight.
“Unfortunately we have seen a death overnight and we at all cost want to try to avoid that.
“A vehicle has been found in floodwaters in Belli Park and a female person has been found in that vehicle.”
“We’re still working out what has occurred.”
He said people should prepare for heavy rainfall and flood conditions to remain until Friday.
“Given that we are likely to see further rain up until Friday, I ask people to make preparation for that weather and similarly to avoid using roads unless completely necessary.
“Respect the emergency services and response team and avoid impeding them.”
An emergency alert has been issued for Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Gympie residents, with reports shoppers are already cleaning out supermarket shelves as the Bureau of Meteorology is warns there is more wet weather to come over the next few days.
Multiple rescues have been carried out, schools have been closed, a train has been derailed and other services suspended, dams are spilling and roads and car parks are under water, with locals anticipating “a bomb site” left in the aftermath of the torrents of water.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Service swiftwater rescue teams were called to 27 incidents overnight including vehicles being trapped in Cooroy, Kin Kin and Gympie. The SES also received 100 requests to attend flooded properties and vehicles in the Sunshine Coast, Gympie and Noosa council areas.
“Some rescues are ongoing due to challenging and dangerous conditions,” the Premier said.
“There are multiple road closures so please heed the warnings which are also affecting some schools. I’m advised at the moment that there are seven schools that are closed.”
At least seven schools have been closed due to flooding including: Gympie East State School, Dagun State School, Kenilworth State Community College, Kia Ora State School, Pomona State School and Kandanga State School.
“There are multiple road closures so please heed the water warning which are also affecting some schools,” the Premier said.
“Education Queensland and the main road website will have the latest information as it becomes available and please look out for updates.”
A severe weather warning for heavy to intense rainfall and possible flash flooding is in place for people in Southeast Coast and parts of Wide Bay and Burnett and Darling Downs and Granite Belt forecast districts, and it comes after a night of torrential rain in many regions.
Cooran resident Amina Eastham has lived in the area for 20 years and had never seen flooding like it.
Ms Eastham said she tried to drive her daughter to the school bus stop about 6.50am on Wednesday morning but could not get across town.
“This bit of Cooran we’re like an island now,” she said.
“To see the levels like that on both of the bridges over Cooran – I’ve just never seen them that high ever and I’ve lived here for 20 years.”
Ms Eastham said she got caught in the huge storm while driving from Maroochydore to Cooran on Tuesday night.
She said the rain was so fierce the road was “like a river” and she had to use the yellow recycling bins to guide her.
“At one point my car went through about a foot of water, I felt the car float and then it went back on the road. It was really scary,” Ms Eastham said.
“Driving up Arthys Rd … you couldn’t see the road at all, it was just like driving up a river. Because people put their bins on the side of the road I could see where the sides of the road were just from the yellow bin lids.
“It was really really scary.”
In its latest warning, the Bureau says heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is expected throughout today and into Thursday between Double Island Point, Toowoomba and Northeast NSW.
Six-hourly rainfall totals between 100mm and 200mm are likely, with locally intense six-hourly rainfall rates of 250mm to 300mm possible.
A flood watch and various flood warnings are current for parts of South East Queensland, and locations that may be affected include the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Maroochydore, Gympie, Caboolture, Coolangatta and Ipswich.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) says at least 12 people were rescued from the Gympie and Kin Kin areas overnight.
Police are urging Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay motorists to stay off the roads as much as possible due to localised flooding, with rapidly changing conditions.
A total of 147 roads are closed in Queensland due to flooding, including 124 on the Sunshine Coast and 34 across the Gympie region.
Parents are also reminded to keep an eye on children around flood waters, ensuring they do not play in waterways, watercourses and drains.
Passenger train services have been suspended between Caboolture and Gympie North due to flooding over the tracks while a freight train has derailed at Traveston about 3.20am.
Ms Palaszczuk said she had been advised that the train driver involved in a derailment at Traveston had been safely rescued and the Transport Minister would soon provide an update on affected services.
“I’m advised the driver has been rescued with minor injuries, there’s a diesel leak that is being managed,” she said.
A number of schools in the Gympie region including Gympie East State School and Gympie Flexible Learning Centre closed their doors due to the heavy rainfall.
“Unfortunately Gympie FLC will not open today,” the school posted on Facebook.
“Due to flooding overnight we have a number of staff flooded in and we are unable to run normal school programs.”
Other areas of South East Queensland are being hammered with heavy rain this morning, in what is shaping up to be a very wet Wednesday.
The Sunshine Coast has seen the largest rainfall totals so far, with most areas recording more than 100mm of rainfall.
Mount Wolvi recorded a mammoth 424mm, Cedar Pocket 354mm, Pomona 356mm, Kin Kin 350mm and Wahpunga 222mm.
Pelican Waters copped 170mm, Landsborough, 183mm and Sippy Downs 158mm.
Meanwhile further south, Bribie Island recorded an average of 85mm, Brisbane 57mm and Gold Coast 60mm.
Ms Palaszczuk confirmed there are 15 SEQ dams currently at maximum capacity, with several spilling, including the Baroon Pocket Dam on the Sunshine Coast, Hinze Dam on the Gold Coast and the Leslie Harrison Dam at Redlands.
The Premier strongly urged Queenslanders to remember “if it’s flooded, forget it.”
“Please I can’t stress this enough, don’t take any risks,” she said.
“Avoid unnecessary travel and stay well away from flood water.”
One Sunshine Coast local, Esther Attewell, reported “insane rain” and anticipated that “loads more than 300mm” has fallen in Cooroy.
“(We’ve) been under a raging Niagara Falls since 7pm,” she said.
“I hope people are being safe, we’re on a hill and flooding.”
“It’s just gonna be a bomb site outside in the morning. Insane rain.’’
Sirens were reported to evacuate all the vans at the Cooroy RV Park in the early hours of Wednesday.
Queensland Police reports some areas on the Sunshine Coast are affected by local and flash flooding including parts of Noosa, Cooroy, Pomona, Kenilworth and Tanawha.
Outflows have increased from Lake Macdonald, Baroon Pocket, Cedar Pocket, Wappa and Ewen Maddock dams. Avoid potential safety hazards downstream. https://t.co/6b9lv0fRo2pic.twitter.com/ELC1TjsO2d
— Seqwater (@Seqwater) February 22, 2022
A Sunshine Coast resident has described a distressing morning trying to rescue about 20 beloved birds from her backyard aviaries.
Paige Hinds was woken at 6am to find her aviaries filled with waist-deep water and a river running through her Lake McDonald yard.
She spent the morning frantically trying to free her pet birds, but it was too late for a few of her ground-dwelling birds.
“It was devastating,” Ms Hinds said.
“I’ve had these birds for 15 years and we don’t have kids so the birds and dogs are our babies.
“It was already dangerous to go out there when we woke so we contemplated tipping the aviary over and letting them all go if the water kept rising.”
Fortunately the couple were able to save the majority of their birds who are now dry inside their home.
“They’re all pretty shaken up as you can imagine, they’re traumatised,” Ms Hinds said.
The last time Ms Hinds had seen similar flooding was 2015.
Riannon McGrath said it had been the heaviest rain she had seen in Palmwoods.
“I would say nearly all night! Tin roof so no sleep!!”
At Nambour, the rain was torrential through the night and accompanied by lightning and thunder.
At Dicky Beach in Caloundra, Katrina Astill reported it was like a “wall of water or being under a waterfall”.
“Gutters not coping and waters just pouring out,” she said.
At Surfers Paradise, on the Gold Coast, another reported it was “pouring”.
A flood watch has been issued to the Gympie region and the Gympie Regional Council has issued an Emergency Alert to all Gympie residents.
Residents are advised that roads and bridges may be impacted by flooding and to keep up to date with further severe weather and flood warnings.
It’s reported shoppers are emptying the supermarkets already, with a high expectation of much more rainfall.
A moderate flood warning has also been issued for the Mary River, with 150mm to 300mm falling over eastern parts of the catchment.
Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Helen Kirkup said further flooding in the Sunshine Coast and Gympie areas is likely on Wednesday however, the continued concentration of heavy rainfall over any one particular area would depend on how quickly the coastal trough moves out to sea.
“Brisbane down to the Gold Coast, you’re at 25-50mm, whereas up towards the Sunshine Coast and Gympie region, they’ve had significant 200-300mm amounts,” she said.
“They are going to have some fairly problematic flood issues, particularly in the areas that have still not recovered from previous flooding.
“We’ve already got the flood warnings out. Our hydrologists put in a lot of catchment data and the varying scenarios of rainfall over time and so they’ll work out flood scenarios from there and that’s what goes into the warnings.”
A woman has been rescued after she was left holding onto a tree after flood water surrounded her car in Goomboorian, northeast of Gympie, this morning.
About 4:52am, the woman called emergency services and police and fire crews arrived at the scene on Tin Can Bay Road.
Petrie Creek Nambour #sunshinecoastpic.twitter.com/SsNGZuU4Cg
— christine ellison (@mrspinchbeck) February 22, 2022
The woman was able to exit the car herself and was safely rescued by 5:25am with assistance from police.
Matt Burke posted on Facebook early on Wednesday morning that both lanes southbound at Kybong near the new service station was flooded.
“Just drove in and car in front of me at 100km/h lucky we got out but everyone was going past us doing the same even trucks as you can’t see the water till you hit it.”
âš ï¸â›ˆï¸ Severe Weather Warning for intense rainfall which is likely to lead to flash flooding has been issued for #SEQ. The heaviest rainfall is currently occurring on the #SunshineCoast but is expected to spread further south during Wednesday. Warnings at https://t.co/CinugnxqkNpic.twitter.com/zZyt9NcR6s
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) February 22, 2022
A ‘very dangerous’ storm hammered the Gympie area late on Tuesday night, with fears it could spark life-threatening flash flooding.
A total of 257mm was recorded at Mt Wolvi, east of Gympie, in the three hours to 10.30pm.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services swift water rescue team was called out to help a woman who became stranded by floodwater.
The woman, who was travelling from Gympie to Kin Kin was able to move to higher ground after water rose swiftly on Gap Rd at Cedar Pocket about 10.20pm.
Two swift water rescue teams were able to reach the woman and bring her to safety shortly before midnight.
Steady rainfall will continue in the southeast throughout Wednesday into Thursday, possibly lingering until Friday afternoon.
“There’s a good chance we’ll see continued showers and storms on and off, which enhances over the ranges but that rain focus could change and you could see some areas get 100-250mm today and tomorrow,” Ms Kirkup said.
“Broadly speaking, we’re looking at least 50-70mm in Gympie and places like Maroochydore could see up to 150mm.
“Higher rainfalls are not out of the question overnight Thursday into Friday but hopefully by Friday evening and Saturday the rain will ease off.
“It’s going to be pretty tough for the next few days.”
ROAD CLOSURES:
Road closures and reported flooding as of 8am:
Hollett Rd, Goldburg Ct, Old Hollett Rd, at Doonan, Noosaville and Weyba Downs, both directions affected
Beddington Rd, Doonan
Doonan Bridge Rd, Doonan
Toolborough Rd, Yandina Creek
Eumundi Kenilworth Rd and intersection of Paddy Melon Ln, Belli Park, all directions affected
Ninderry Rd, Yandina
Collins Rd, Yandina
Eumundi Kenilworth Rd, Gheerulla
Obi Obi Rd, Kenilworth and Obi Obi
Colemans Rd, Yandina
Wappa Dam Rd, Mapleton
Kiamba Rd bridge, Nambour
Yandina-Bli Bli Rd, Parklakes
Dulong School Rd, Dulong
Petrie Park Rd, Nambour
Ann St, Nambour
Bli Bli Rd at Tuckers Creek
Mayers Rd, Coes Creek
Eudlo Flats Rd, Kuluin
Lindsay Rd, Buderim
Jubilee Dr, Palmwoods
Old Bowling Green Rd, Palmwoods
Chevallum Rd, Chevallum
McGilchrist Rd, Chevallum
Eudlo rail underpass
Highlands Rd bridge, Eudlo
Neill Rd, Mooloolah Valley
Commissioners Flat Rd, Peachester
Old Gympie Rd, Glenview
Evans Grove Rd, Glenview
Connection Rd, Mooloolah Valley
Stevens Rd, Glenview
Koala Ct, Caloundra West
Sippy Creek Rd, Palmview
Glenmount Rd, Tanawha
Crosby Hill Rd, Tanawha
Stringybark Rd, Buderim
Ballinger Rd, Buderim
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