‘400mm coming’: Flash flooding, cars swallowed in NQ deluge

A month’s worth of rain is set to pummel a 700km stretch of north Queensland coastline as heavy rain slams the region, causing flash flooding and mass chaos. It comes as police issued a wider warning for hazardous roads.

A month’s worth of rain is set to pummel a 700km stretch of Queensland coastline as heavy rain slams the region, causing flash flooding and mass chaos.

Weather experts have warned North Queensland is facing more flash flooding on Friday and into the weekend and some parts could have 400mm of rain over the next week.

“It’s going to be a very intense weekend of rain,” Sky News Weather meteorologist Alison Osborne said.

“January 2023 could shape up to be the wettest single month for pockets of the Queensland coast since February 2021.”

The deluge is expected to be the most intense in a 700km line from north of Cairns to south of Mackay.

Will Graham and his boss came to the rescue of a motorist who became trapped in floodwaters at Eton in the Mackay region on January 12, 2023. The driver was rescued in an excavator bucket. Picture: 7 News Mackay.

“This is due to a building rain and storm event which will focus over coastal and inland areas north of about Rockhampton right the way through and into next week,” Ms Osborne said.

“In many areas, this will constitute a month’s worth of rain falling in just a week,” she said. On Saturday, Townsville could register 100mm of rain – and not far off that on Sunday.

The Bureau of Meteorology said Mackay could expect heavy rain again on Friday, 10 to 60mm of rain on Saturday, 3 to 60mm of rain on Sunday, 4 to 50mm on Monday and 1 to 35mm on Tuesday.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a thunderstorm forecast covering much of Queensland, January 13, 2022. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

Some of the heaviest rainfall in the 21 hours until 6.30am on Friday included Rowallan Park and Black Mountain (Farleigh) with 227mm, McCreadys Creek with 202mm, Walkerston with 164mm, Mt Pleasant with more than 135mm, while South Mackay recorded 112mm and Mackay stations ranged from 96mm to more than 116mm.

Qld Traffic issued a warning for drivers west of Cairns on Friday morning.

At 6.05am Qld Traffic reported the Mulligan Highway at Biboohra, south of Quaids Dam, was flooded in both directions and warned drivers not to use to the road.

This will affect drivers travelling to or from Mareeba or Mount Molloy.

Will Graham and his boss came to the rescue of a motorist who became trapped in floodwaters at Eton in the Mackay region on January 12, 2023. The driver was rescued in an excavator bucket. Picture: 7 News Mackay.

Brisbane will be spared the washout with barely any drops of rain over the weekend.

Overnight, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said heavy rainfall and flash flooding was impacting the Mackay area, particularly in the northern suburbs.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service shared this photo of flooding in the Mackay region, January 12, 2023.

“Now is NOT the time to be on the road. Multiple roads are already flooded, including some that aren’t usually affected by rain.

“As we move into the evening it will be incredibly difficult to see water on the road or assess the depth of it.

“No matter what you drive, don’t drive through floodwater. Seek other routes or delay your travel.”

Facebook user William Missin shared this photo of flooding over Farleigh Habana Rd in the Mackay region, January 12, 2023.

Facebook user Ashleigh Brooke Grendon shared this photo of flooding over Sarina Homebush Rd in the Mackay region, January 12, 2023.

Facebook user Corinn Borland shared this photo of flooding behind Annies Nursery in Bucasia, Mackay, January 13, 2023.

Police issued a wider warning for the north Queensland area, including Longreach, Barcoo, Winton, Blackall-Tambo and Barcaldine Shires, urging motorists to stay off flooded roads.

“Trying to navigate these hazards, either in vehicles or on foot, can be treacherous, as water levels rise and fall quickly, and very often with little or no warning.

Facebook user Gabrielle Refalo shared this photo of her rain gauge at Coningsby in the Mackay region, January 12, 2023.

“Emergency services are struggling to comprehend why some motorists ignore the notice signs and warnings that are erected on flooded roads.”

“Police would like to remind the community, it is not only a risk to drivers and their passengers, it also poses risk to our emergency services who assist in these incidents.

Facebook user Krysti Chandler shared this photo of flooding at Mandarana in the Mackay region, January 12, 2023.

Facebook user Nat Dillon shared this photo of flooding at the softball fields along Beaconsfield Rd in Beaconsfield, Mackay, January 12, 2023.

“Flood waters can tear away the road surface and result in the surface of the road being much more dangerous than you know.

“ Dirt roads throughout the Shires are hazardous to drive on when wet and can disable a vehicle by bogging. A vehicle’s power can cut out in water, disabling electric powered windows and locks making a flooded vehicle near impossible to escape.”

They warned motorists faced fines of more than $550 for entering flooded roads or crossing road closed signs.

Earlier, photos of flash flooding in North Queensland began circulating as remnants of Cyclone Ellie hit the region.

Facebook user Julie Burns shared this photo of a water spout forming over Hideaway Bay in the Whitsundays, January 13, 2023.

Facebook user Josh, via Island FM Whitsundays, shared this photo of a waterspout forming over Hideaway Bay in the Whitsundays, January 13, 2023.

This includes in the Whitsundays where two people shared photographs of waterspouts forming offshore.

Extra SES volunteers were on standby in Mackay.

Will Graham and his boss came to the rescue of a motorist who became trapped in floodwaters at Eton in the Mackay region on January 12, 2023. The driver was rescued in an excavator bucket. Picture: 7 News Mackay.

It comes after two drivers were rescued in separate incidents on Wednesday night, one involving a good Samaritan with an excavator bucket, following rainfalls up to 220mm.

Will Graham and his boss came to the rescue of a motorist who became trapped in floodwaters at Eton in the Mackay region on January 12, 2023. The driver was rescued in an excavator bucket. Picture: 7 News Mackay.

SES local controller Alex McPhee said they had prepared a group on standby ahead of Thursday night’s expected deluge for “preventive measures”.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Harry Clark saying it was certain the Mackay region would experience further flash flooding into Thursday night.

“(On Wednesday night), there was heavy rainfall across the Mackay area, the heaviest falls were to the south,” Mr Clark said.

“Fenners Rd, the gauge had 220mm in the 24 hours to 9am this morning.”

Homebush received 173mm, Munburra Rd 166mm, Mackay Airport 116mm, and the Mackay CBD 93mm.

“A lot of that fell in a three to four hour period where it was quite heavy … obviously that led to some flash flooding,” Mr Clark said.

Facebook user Madalyn Barrett shared this photo of children finding joy in the flooding at Mount Jukes in the Mackay region, January 12, 2023.

Facebook user Sarah-Jane Munchow shared this photo of flooding over Browns Rd and Niells Rd in the Mackay region, January 12, 2023.

Facebook user Leanne Allford shared this photo of drivers taking a risk driving through flooded waters at the Gooseponds bridge along Malcomson St, North Mackay, January 12, 2023.

“It is a very similar forecast for (Thursday).

“Once again, towards the end of today, we could see heavy falls develop around the region.”

Photos are already emerging from harried residents warning each other to avoid certain roads and areas.

Charlotte Ford shared the photograph of Kerrisdale Estate in Beaconsfield to Mackay Noticeboard on Facebook, saying low-set cars would not be able to enter.

Reliance Creek bridge has flooded as rain smashes the Mackay region., with photos posted to Habana Facebook group. Photo: Contributed

Comments on Ms Ford’s post said there was similar flooding on Keeleys Road and out at Farleigh, where a picture by Facebook user Tim Tam shows flooded cane fields.

Facebook user Tim Tam shared this photo of flash floods in Farleigh cane fields. Photo: Contributed

Mr Clark said the “indiscriminate” downpours would continue for the next few days towards Monday and Tuesday, with the system resulting from former Tropical Cyclone Ellie impacting the coast from Townsville down to Longreach.

“In layman’s terms, a really moist air mass is in place across Queensland.”

Facebook user Madonna Ede shared this photo of flooding at her gym in Clermont in the Isaac region, January 13, 2023.

Facebook user Kaz Donnelly shared this photo of water over the road at Burkes Crossing in Walkerston, Mackay, January 13, 2023.

Residents across Mackay Whitsunday Isaac should keep their umbrellas on standby and settle in for indoor activities as even when it’s not raining over the next few days, the weather will be “very humid”, “particularly for areas St Lawrence north”.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service shared this photo of flooding near Beaconsfield Rd in the Mackay region, January 12, 2023.

Facebook user Ashleigh Brooke Grendon shared this photo of flooding at the Sarina Showgrounds in the Mackay region, January 12, 2023.

Facebook user Scott Harm shared this photo of flooding at Ooralea in Mackay, January 12, 2023.

Mr Clark said the BOM encouraged residents to stay out of floodwaters, keep an eye on the radars, and listen out for emergency broadcasts should there by any.

He said they would issue a warning if the Pioneer River or other large systems were to flood but primarily the rainfalls would affect local creeks.

To access the Emergency Dashboard for the Mackay region, which gives you the latest information on road closures, rainfalls, and flooding, visit disaster.mackay.qld.gov.au

For the Isaac region, visit dashboard.isaac.qld.gov.au

And for the Whitsundays, visit disaster.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au