Emergency services prepare for wild weather

State Emergency Service volunteers are on standby with the Bureau of Meteorology forecast heavy rain, flash flooding large hail.

Towns in southwest Queensland are preparing for a week of wild weather with one community already experiencing moderate flooding.

The Bulloo River at Thargomindah is at 4.95m and it is likely to stay at a moderate flood level for at least the next few days.

As of 9am Tuesday, widespread rainfall totals of 10-25 mm were observed over the catchment, with isolated totals up to 38mm.

The Bureau of Meteorology has recorded moderate flooding is occurring along the Bulloo River downstream of Quilpie, around Autumnvale and Thargomindah.

An aerial view of flooding at Orinya Station near Quilpie, Queensland. Pic Bob Sharplin.

There may be small rises depending on where the showers and thunderstorms dump their water.

QFES director of regional operations Acting Chief Superintendent Warren Buckley said Warren Buckley said the bulk of the flood is forecast to occur west of Roma.

“We are prepared and have plans in place,” he said.

“We have reviewed the predict weather forecast and the Bureau has downgraded some of the weather forecast for Wallangarra and to Goondiwindi

“We have a team of water rescue technicians based in Toowoomba and they are available to respond to any incident via road or air if they need to.”

SES volunteers have already started resupply operations to communities and farms isolated by floodwater near Thargomindah.

Mr Buckley said crews are waiting to see where the rain falls before they act.

“There are few storm cells north of Roma and Meandarra and they are expected to move through this afternoon and into tomorrow,” he said.

“With isolated thunderstorms there may be large amounts of rain but we don’t know where.

“Up to 50mm of rain falling on top of already saturated catchments could lead to rapid flooding so we have to maintain a vigil over where those storms are developing.”

Warwick and Southern Downs

Warwick and the Southern Downs are currently preparing for a wet and thundery weekend, with heavy rain and thunderstorms predicted to go into the next week.

For towns across the Southern Downs that lie on the Condamine River the Bureau of Meteorology have issued several warnings regarding flooding concerns.

As further showers and thunderstorms move east across Queensland, rises in the river and minor flooding are likely across the Condamine River and its catchment below Warwick.

On Wednesday, the Bureau listed that the rise of the Condamine River at Warwick was ‘steady’ and as of Wednesday the river currently sits at 1.11 metres.