Warwick, Granite Belt remain on flood watch with 45mm - 100mm rainfall on cards

‘Looking at close to a month’s worth of rain’: Experts say 80mm+ rain in only hours on the Granite Belt could be just the start of an intense weather system expected to batter Warwick and surrounds.

Jessica Paul

2 min read

November 11, 2021 - 8:30AM

Bureau issues flood alert as NSW and Queensland prepare for heavy rain

Warwick

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Experts say the Granite Belt and wider Southern Downs region remain at risk of “major or life-threatening flooding” in the next 48 hours as a huge overnight downpour closes major streets and roadways.

Data from the Bureau of Meteorology indicates rain gauges in Stanthorpe and Applethorpe scored about 86mm each between 9pm on Wednesday through to 2am on Thursday.

The huge rainfall totals have reportedly caused flash flooding from Quart Pot Creek and Accommodation Creek, cutting off more than a dozen roads across the region.

Stanthorpe resident Hannah Mann wrote on social media that she and her family received “nearly 100mm (Wednesday night)”, and fellow resident Morris Mann said the flooded roadways were already wreaking havoc.

“Yep it’s here, watching the cars doing the river run. We need a pedestrian crossing here just to cross the street, it’s madness,” they said.

Storm King Dam was at 100 per cent capacity prior to the deluge, with BOM data now putting it at a minor to moderate flood level.

Water flowing into Leslie Dam near Warwick. Picture: Warwick Tackle and Tusk

Connolly Dam and Leslie Dam remain at 100 per cent and 60.9 per cent capacity respectively.

Major towns in the northern end of the region such as Warwick and Killarney missed out entirely on the intense weather system, but latest forecasts suggest the heaviest rainfall could be still to come.

BOM meteorologist Felim Hanniffy said Southern Downs residents could receive another massive downpour of 60mm to 100mm on Thursday, with latest warnings suggesting storms could drive totals up to 150mm.

He said Stanthorpe and Granite Belt residents were at greater risk of flash and riverine flooding due to the huge overnight totals.

“It’ll be very much dictated by where the thunderstorms move, but if they move over you then for those areas you’re looking at close to a month’s worth of rain,” Mr Hanniffy said.

Wild weather warning for Warwick, Granite Belt, and wider Southern Downs on Thursday.

“This week so far has been very wet, and the ground has already absorbed what it can, so anything else from the falls is flowing into the catchment and you’re going to get a quick response from the river systems.

“The atmosphere remains very, very moist – we’re talking moisture levels you’d more see in January and February – and that’s why there’s so much moisture available for storms to deliver those high totals.”

More than a dozen roads across the Granite Belt remain closed to motorists, with Southern Downs Regional Council urging residents to avoid entering flood waters.

See the full list of road closures below: