Queensland weather: ‘Life-threatening’ flash flooding as super cell dumps 145mm of rain in two hours
The M1 has reopened after being cut by floodwaters for six hours while theme parks remain underwater after ‘life-threatening’ flash flooding hit parts of southeast Queensland during a 300mm rain deluge.
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The M1 has reopened after being cut by floodwaters for six hours today while theme parks remain underwater after ‘life-threatening’ flash flooding hit parts of southeast Queensland during a wild 300mm deluge.
Though the wet and stormy conditions are not over as at 10.30pm on Saturday residents in parts of the Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay and Burnett regions are being told to prepare for thunderstorms with potentially heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued by the Bureau of Meteorology at 9.56pm as a band of thunderstorms develop over the southeast coast.
Areas that may be impacted by the storm include Maroochydore, Gympie, Noosa Heads, Maryborough, Nambour and Rainbow Beach.
Tewantin, near Noosa, has recorded 7.2mm of rainfall since 9.30pm.
The severe storm warning - which was issued during intense rainfall from the mega cell that extended from the Sunshine Coast down to the Gold Coast - was cancelled about 7am Saturday after an overnight downpour caused flash flooding on major roads.
VIDEO: MAN ROWS BOAT DOWN FLOODED GOLD COAST STREET
It dumped up to 145mm of rain in just two hours, causing widespread chaos across the Gold Coast and forcing the closure of the M1 at Helensvale from 6am.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE HOW MUCH RAIN FELL IN YOUR AREA
The M1 reopened six hours later - just before midday - but gridlock will take a while to clear after motorists were diverted off the M1 onto service roads near the Movie World exit at Oxenford.
FULL LIST OF FLOOD-AFFECTED ROADS
Earlier, drivers reported it took more than one hour to make the usual 5-minute trip from Smith Street to the Oxenford exit.
Exit 49 at Pimpama was also closed after several motorists travelled the wrong way up the southbound on ramp to escape the gridlock.
At the height of the downpour, traffic cameras showed lines of cars pulled over on the side of the road, unable to get through floodwaters.
In other parts of the M1 between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the rainfall was so heavy motorists were forced to slow to half-speed, as visibility and flash flooding caused dramas.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area at all costs with severe flooding also forcing Gold Coast theme parks Dreamworld, WhiteWater World, Movie World and Wet n Wild to close today.
When Movie World becomes wet n wild... the theme park will be closed today after severe flash flooding. 📸 Michelle Hill. @7NewsBrisbane pic.twitter.com/3QfG1Io4mz
— Mac Lyon (@MacLyon7) January 17, 2020
Photos show both parks underwater while residents in Southport have been spotted rowing boats down streets.
8 hours of rain on the #GoldCoast and we people in boats on the streets of Southport. 🚣â€â™‚ï¸ â˜”ï¸ pic.twitter.com/2GWL4mdb2K
— Ricky Kroesen 🇦🇺 (@rickykroesen) January 17, 2020
The Cunningham Highway between Tarome and Maryvale was also closed all morning due to flooding and was reopened at noon.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ROADS AFFECTED BY FLASH FLOODING
The deluge has hit the Gold Coast the hardest with 145mm of rain recorded at Monterey Keys in just two hours and 86mm at Coomera Shores in one hour.
According to the weather bureau, parts of the Gold Coast has recorded 300mm overnight - triple the monthly rainfall.
Police were called to 52 incidents and two swift water rescues were performed.
A ute was swept away at Country Paradise Parklands on Beaudesert Nerang Road, Nerang and flood waters are to the rooves of cars on Ferry Road, Southport.
At Southport, the normally quiet Keebra Park was flooded with water, turning it into a river-like raging torrent.
“Our park has turned into a river, this is really scary,” one resident said.
Earlier, the Bureau of Meteorology warned that very dangerous thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Hope Island, South Stradbroke Island and Tallebudgera.
These thunderstorms were slow moving and hit the wide region from Coolangatta to Nerang, Numinbah Valley and Mount Tamborine..
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“Intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is likely,” the BOM warned.
The rest of southeast Queensland remained under a severe storm warning with the BOM warning heavy rainfall would continue for several more hours, leading to flash flooding.
Areas affected stretch from Coolangatta to Beenleigh, Cleveland, Point Lookout, Moreton Bay and Amity Point.
Already, 86mm of rain was dumped in one hour at Coomera Shores while 80-90mm was recorded at several locations around the southern Sunshine Coast, 70mm at Currumbin Creek and 69mm at Burleigh Waters.
ROADS AFFECTED BY FLASH FLOODING:
- Gold Coast Highway, Miami
- M1, Helensvale - both directions
- Cunningham Highway, Mount Edwards/Tregony
- Bermuda Street, Burleigh Heads
- Hardys Road, Bonogin
- Hungerford Road, Dynevor
- Baratta Street, Southport
- Torver Valley Road, Dutton River/Hughenden
- Glentor Prairie Road, Prairie
- Dalkeith Road, Dutton River
SEE FULL LIST OF FLOOD-AFFECTED ROADS
RAINFALL TOTALS SINCE 9AM FRIDAY:
Coolum - 132mm
Stoney Wharf Rd - 121mm
Picnic Point - 132mm
Mountain Creek - 152mm
Bundilla - 187mm
Meridan Way - 150mm
Sugarbag Road - 151mm
Bells Creek South - 140mm
Bribie Island Quarry - 144mm
Moreton Island - 138mm
Alexandra Hills - 141mm
North Stradbroke Island - 164mm
Carbrook - 140mm
Steiglitz Wharf - 179mm
Kerkin Road - 186mm
Couran Point - 179mm
South Stradbroke Island - 143mm
Coomera Shores - 215mm
Monterey Keys - 223mm
Clagiraba Road - 145mm
Clearview - 266mm
Carrara - 299mm
Evandale - 292mm
Worongary Creek - 246mm
Burleigh Waters - 285mm
Tallebudgera Creek - 220mm
Mudgeeraba - 232mm
Neranwood - 203mm
Tallebudgera Creek Road - 239mm
Coolangatta - 200mm
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:
* Never drive, walk or ride through flood waters. If it’s flooded, forget it.
* Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
* Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm.
* Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.
* For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.
Originally published as Queensland weather: ‘Life-threatening’ flash flooding as super cell dumps 145mm of rain in two hours
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