Central Highlands weather: Motorists in The Willows and Tieri stranded in flooded water on Thursday

Emergency services rescued multiple people from flooded roadways overnight as May rainfall records tumbled in some parts of Central Queensland. Earlier in the week, police fined two men for disobeying road closed signs. Full details here.

Emergency services rescued two groups of stranded motorists in flood waters in the Central Highlands overnight Thursday as rain continues to fall across the region.

Queensland Ambulance Service reported they were called to The Willows for a rescue on the Capricorn Highway near Glenlee Road just after 6pm.

A woman in her 30s was suffering from chest pain with a young child, as shallow flooding water rose in both directions around their car.

The pair was taken to Emerald Hospital in a stable condition.

Another group of motorists was rescued after becoming stranded at Tieri on Thursday night.

It comes as frustrated Dysart Police reminded motorists it was an offence to drive through flood waters after several incidents throughout the week.

Police and fire crews were called to reports of a single vehicle ute crash on Golden Mile Road on Tuesday evening, and failed to locate the vehicle as the road was closed due to flooding.

Then on Wednesday, May 11, police issued two infringement notices to offenders for disobeying a road access.

In separate incidents, a 44-year-old North Mackay man and a 32-year-old Bullyard man were issued infringement notices for $165 and three demerit points.

Emerald Airport received 63mm of rain on Wednesday and a further 23mm on Thursday.

This week’s rain has broken the May’s average rainfall for Emerald, which was previously 17.9mm

The road between Emerald and Rockhampton was closed but has since opened early Friday morning.

In Rockhampton, a total of 65mm has been recorded between Monday and Thursday.

The Bureau of Meteorology released a flood watch on Thursday afternoon just before 1pm, with a minor to moderate flooding.

BOM warns “a strong upper trough moving eastwards across Queensland may produce showers and thunderstorms across the flood watch area during the rest of today (Thursday) and Friday”.

Central Qld catchments to be affected included the Dawson and Don rivers, Comet and Nogoa rivers, Connors, Isaac Creek, Mackenzie River, Fitzroy River, Shoalwater creeks and Water Park creeks.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts rain for Central Queensland into the middle of next week, but falls will slow down over the weekend.

“The rainfall risk is expected to ease into the weekend as the upper trough moves just offshore,” he Bureau said.