Queensland weather: Severe storm warning issued for southeast Queensland

LESS than 24 hours after a powerful supercell storm ripped through parts of southeast Queensland, one region has copped more rain in 20 hours than it’s had all year.

UPDATE: The severe storm that hit the Gold Coast and parts of the state’s southeast this morning has now passed.

WILD WEATHER: Storms leave 300km path of destruction

The Gold Coast was drenched by up to 115mm of rain overnight with more heavy rain expected over coming days.

The Gold Coast Bulletin reported the hinterland was worst hit overnight, with Tallai recording 115mm of rain since 9am yesterday, followed by Worongary with 101mm and Hinze Dam with 88mm.

More than 90mm of rain fell in 30 minutes in some areas of the Sunshine Coast overnight, with more rain expected around southeast Queensland today.

The Sunshine Coast Daily reported the region was belted with more rain in the past 20 hours than it has all year with the state’s record falls for 2017 recorded at a whopping 267mm.

Rain-laden storms lashed the northern and central Sunshine Coast between midnight and 3am with Tewantin receiving 92mm in an hour of the 198mm it has received in the past 21 hours.

At nearby Noosa Heads 175mm fell in the same period.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist James Thompson said Mount Walsh, a popular national park near Biggenden, about 230km northwest of Brisbane, was pounded with 91mm of rain in half-an-hour overnight.

Rain drenches Surfers Paradise in the early hours of the morning. Picture: Mark Furler

Tewantin, also on the Sunshine Coast, received 92mm in an hour between midnight and 1am today, for a total of 198mm received in the past 24 hours.

Mr Thompson said Maryborough had wind gusts of up to 83km, but there were none of note recorded in other areas.

Pacific Pines, on the Gold Coast, received 69mm between 5.20am and 6.20am today, totalling 98mm in the past 24 hours.

Mr Thompson said Brisbane only received 2.8mm of rain overnight, while Dayboro to the north received 58mm yesterday.

Salisbury, in Brisbane’s south, received 30mm of rain and Rochedale, in Logan, received 30ml, both between 8pm to midnight.

Mr Thompson said a severe thunderstorm warning remained active for the Darling Downs region, with residents there still cleaning up from yesterday’s big storm that brought hail, ripped the roof off a house, and downed some trees and powerlines.

A minor flood warning remains active for the Moonie River, with the Macintyre and Weir rivers still under flood watch this morning.

A severe thunderstorm and flash flooding warning has been announced for the Central Queensland region, including Rockhampton and surrounding areas.

A thunderstorm warning for the Southeast Queensland regions stemming from east of Dalby, from Rainbow Beach to Stanthorpe, has been cancelled.

EARLIER: Less than 24 hours after a powerful supercell storm ripped through parts of southeast Queensland, a new severe storm warning has been issued.

About a dozen residents were left homeless following Tuesday’s storm activity and while the clean-up continues, the wild weather continues this morning.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned that severe thunderstroms that are likely to produce heavy rain and flash flooding were detected on the radar and are set to affect the Gold Coast this morning.

Locations which may be affected include Coolangatta, Springbrook and Tallebudgera, the Bureau said.

Intense rainfall about the Gold Coast should slip south in the next few hours. Rain rates of 70-80mm in an hour being observed. Keep safe! pic.twitter.com/SGwQxrQHPl

— BOM Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 14, 2017

Double the average monthly rainfall could fall on the Gold Coast this week according to forecasters. And huge waves could greet surfers by the weekend.

The drenching rain arrived overnight with the deluge expected to continue until early next week.

Up to 24mm of rain fell in parts of the Hinterland overnight and almost 9mm fell at Southport.

Some parts of the Coast are expected to see 35mm falling today.

Elsewhere in the state, a severe storm warning is in place for Rockhampton and Yeppoon.

“Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours,” the Bureau said.

“Locations which may be affected include Rockhampton and Yeppoon.”