Incredible drone footage shows Brisbane River breaking its banks

Incredible drone footage has captured the Brisbane River seeping into backyards as a raging torrent makes its way downstream. SEE THE VIDEO

A flood warning has been issued for the Brisbane River after torrential rain saturated the region, with waterfront homes already being inundated by rising water levels.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning at 5.02am on Monday that the Brisbane River could reach minor flood levels of 1.70m in Brisbane City on successive high tides on Monday and Tuesday.

The river hit the minor flood level at 7.17am before it started falling with the tide.

It comes after more than 300mm of rain fell overnight in some parts of Brisbane, including 308mm in Brisbane City, 308mm in East Brisbane and 275mm at Brisbane Airport.

The heavy rain also sparked dam releases from Somerset Dam into Wivenhoe Dam on Sunday night after the catchment received 56mm of rain.

The Brisbane RIver at Indooroopilly on Monday morning. Picture: Russell Eley

Incredible drone footage along the Brisbane River at Chelmer and Indooroopilly shows water already seeping into the backyards of waterfront homes during the high ride on Monday.

The warning from the Bureau said the heavy rain had resulted in creek and river level rises across the Lower Brisbane River catchment on Monday, resulting in a minor flood warning for Brisbane City and Lowood.

“Minor flooding is possible at Brisbane City on successive high tides during the early hours of Monday and Tuesday,” the warning said.

“Further upstream along the Brisbane River, minor flooding is possible at Lowood overnight Monday into Tuesday.

“The situation is being monitored closely, and this flood warning will be updated as required.”

The Brisbane River City Gauge is currently 1.15m and falling with the tide.

In the devastating 2022 floods, the Brisbane River City Gauge peaked at 3.85m - 350mm above the major flood level.

The footage showed water already seeping into the backyards of waterfront homes. Picture: Russell Eley

The heavy rain sparked Seqwater to start operational releases of Somerset Dam into Wivenhoe Dam on Sunday night to balance storage levels.

“Releases are not expected to cause the lake level in Wivenhoe Dam to increase by more than 0.5 metres in the next 24 hours, pending further rainfall within the Upper Brisbane River catchment upstream of Wivenhoe Dam,” they said.

“Operational releases are common to balance the lake levels across Somerset and Wivenhoe dams.

“There are no water releases planned for Wivenhoe Dam.”

The Wivenhoe Dam catchment has recorded 69mm overnight on Monday, Somerset Dam recorded 56mm and North Pine Dam copped 164mm.

North Pine Dam flood releases began at 3am on Sunday.

Wivenhoe Dam is currently sitting at 87.7 per cent capacity and Somerset at 81.6 per cent.