100mm falls, severe storms, flash flooding: Qld braces for wild weather

Thunderstorms and heavy rain are sweeping across huge sections of Queensland, bringing with them the real risk of flash flooding.

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A wet evening is likely for southeastern parts of the state as a large weather system blows across from central and northern districts, promising to settle in for a drenching tomorrow.

The Bureau of Meteorology said Brisbane and the Gold Coast would be spared from the worst of the storms further north, but warned flash flooding remained a risk.

“In Brisbane and the South East it will be quite a showery day,” forecaster Brooke Pagel said.

“We won’t have that burst of rainfall that often comes with storms, but flash flooding is still a key risk because it has been wet this week, so watch out particularly on the roads.”

Ms Pagel said Thursday would be the wettest of the week, but drizzle could stick around across the weekend.

“Today and tomorrow are the main rainfall days, but there’ll still be some lingering showers later in the week,” she said.

“In Brisbane we’re looking at 5 to 10mm of rain today, and up to 25mm tomorrow.”

Thunderstorms and rain will hit big sections of Queensland on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Gold Coast is expecting up to 6mm today, while Sunshine Coast will cop 20 to 30mm today and up to 35mm Thursday.

The heaviest rains will be seen in central parts of the state, said the BOM.

“Severe thunderstorms are possible today across Central Queensland, but the main risk has moved right back from the southeast coast, so severe storms are most likely north of Bundaberg now,” Ms Pagel said.

“There’ll be really intense rainfall on the central Queensland coast today between Rockhampton and into Gladstone, reaching just into Bundaberg. Along the coast we could see 50mm of rain, even possibly towards 100mm in some spots.”

“Locally intense rainfall and damaging winds are the main risks.”

Rains are expected to ease by the end of the week as the trough carry a low pressure system moves off shore.

Wild weather earlier this week has seen flash flooding in several areas and the temporary removal of shark safety nets for public safety.

Some areas set for a soaking have already copped almost a month’s worth of rain this week, increasing risk of flash flooding over the coming days.

Sunshine Coast has had 80.4mm since 9am Sunday, North Pine Dam 77mm, Doonan Creek 64mm and Eight Mile Plains 69mm.