Flooding closes Leichhardt Hwy as Western Downs braces for potential downpour
Major flood warning are in place for towns across the Western Downs and Maranoa regions, as southeast Queensland braces for yet another drenching. Full details and road closures here:
Roma
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More severe thunderstorm could lash parts of the Western Downs and Maranoa regions further into Monday as flooding across the Leichardt Highway blocks both directions of traffic.
BOM meteorologist Livio Regano said relentless weather smashing Queensland’s east over in recent weeks has left the catchments so saturated that “every drop of water now goes straight into the streams and rivers”.
“The ground is so wet it can’t suck up any more water,” Mr Regano said.
“The whole of southeast Queensland is in that position now. It’s much more responsive to rain now than it ever has been.”
Mr Regano said more severe thunderstorms may be on the cards for the Western Downs later today before clearing tomorrow, however the soggy weather is expected to rear its head again by Friday.
“The threat will return later in the week when a new weather system comes through. It will start with the west first and shift eastwards,” he said.
A flood warning remains in place for the Condamine River downstream of Loudoun Bridge, where major floods are continuing to rise.
The Condamine River at Chinchilla Weir is currently at 11.44m and is expected to remain above the major flood level, around 10m, during Monday.
The stretch of river at the Condamine township is currently at 10.4m and rising with major flooding, which is about 30cm above the level of the Crawford Bridge.
The Bureau is predicting flooding to peak at about 11m during Monday and remain above the major flood level for the next few days.
The Leichardt Highway is currently closed in both directions at Condamine, where water is spilling over the road.
Further west flood warnings remain in place for the Balonne River, with major flooding at Warkon reaching 9.14m and rising.
The Balonne River is also expected to flow past major flood levels at Surat by Tuesday.
See the full list of road closures below:
Leichhardt Highway at Condamine
Glenolive Road at Condamine
Dalby Cecil Plains Road between Warrego Highway and W Prairie Road at Dalby/Tipton
Dalby Kogan Road at Ranges Bridge
MacAlister Wilkie Creek Road at MacAlister
Warra Kogan Road at Brigalow/Warra
Warra Canaga Creek Road at Warra
Chinchilla Kogan Road at Boonarga
Chinchilla Tara Road at Crossroads /Greenswamp
Greenswamp Road at Greenswamp
Condamine Meandarra Road at Barramornie
Yulabilla Road at Glenmorgan
Warkon Road at Warkon
Scotsburn Road at Warkon
Talavera Road at Surat
Narline Road at Saint George
Cubbie Road at Dirranbandi
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