Towns hit with 66mm+ as SEQ soaked by slow moving system

South East Queensland has been drenched with widespread falls up to 66mm but the showers are expected to ease today.

Southeast Queensland has been drenched by a slow moving system.

Rain that drenched much of South East Queensland on Tuesday including widespread falls of more than 30mm south of Brisbane city are expected to ease today.

The Bureau of Meteorology has largely forecast rain to clear however there is an 80 per cent chance for some showers throughout the day with 1-15mm possible.

“High chance of rain, becoming less likely during the morning and clearing in the afternoon,” the bureau’s latest forecast read.

According to the bureau, since 9am yesterday the heaviest falls have fallen near Warwick, with Upper Freestone recording 66mm, while Warwick has recorded 37mm, with 32mm falling at Bony Mountain.

Ipswich City also received healthy falls with 33mm at Limestone Park, 31mm at Amberley and Ipswich, and 30mm at One Mile Bridge.

In Brisbane by 9pm on Tuesday 52mm had falling in the City, 53mm at Mt Coot-tha, 54mm at Rosalie and Toowong, and 62mm at Holland Park West.

Jindalee along with Ipswich’s Karalee and South Ripley recorded 54mm while 55mm fell at Lyons in Logan.

Possible thunderstorms were predicted from the Gold Coast in the southeast, through Central Queensland to the Northern Territory border, and north to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Severe thunderstorms are also possible within this area, with the areas most under threat including the Darling Downs, Central West, North West and Channel Country.

The weather bureau’s Christie Johnson said a trough extending from the northwest through to Central Queensland was expected to bring showers and thunderstorms to the southeast.

“We’re seeing quite a lot of humidity over the state, and we are certainly expecting to see that give us some further rain and thunderstorms today,” the meteorologist said.

“As we move into the afternoon and evening, it would be the sort of peak period for Brisbane, for seeing showers and thunderstorms as that trough slowly migrates northwards.”

Ms Johnson said while the heatwave was moving further up the state, high humidity was expected to continue.

⛈️Thunderstorm FORECAST for TUESDAY: Storms possible across western, central & southern #Qld, & far north #CapeYorkPeninsula.

SEVERE storms with HEAVY RAINFALL possible, mainly for parts of inland #SEQ, and western & central #Qld.

Warnings if issued: https://t.co/FBmpsInT9opic.twitter.com/0oRh95dnB0

— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) December 9, 2024

“That heatwave warning is contracting more to the north of the state as this trough pushes across. So we are seeing cooler temperatures where we’re forecasting – so it is a cooling trend but it will still remain humid,” she said.

Ms Johnson said the rain could bring flash flooding for inland areas of SEQ.

“There is the potential for any storms that develop to cause heavy rainfall, that could cause flash flooding,” she said.

“It’s probably slightly more of a risk further inland, around the hinterland, rather than right in the city.

“But it can’t be ruled out through the city, there is definitely the chance of thunderstorms, and there was a lot of moisture in the air. So even though (the city is) not the most favourable spot, there is some chance this afternoon.”

She urged those living in flood-prone areas to stay alert and keep up to date with the weather bureau’s warnings.

“We have seen quite a lot of rainfall recently, and so the ground is quite saturated so that flash flooding could develop very quickly,” she said.

A storm pictured moving through Brisbane in October. Picture: Josh Woning

“There’s not really any potential for the rain to soak into the ground because it’s already wet.

“Be aware … and keep an eye on the radar and watch for any warnings for severe thunderstorms.

“Never drive through flood waters and take care if you’re out on the roads and there are heavy showers or storms around.

“We do have flood warnings for flooded rivers over sort of more inland parts of southern Queensland from previous rainfall.”