Heavy rain, flash flooding as large, slow moving storms hit state’s north

Parts of North Queensland have copped an astonishing deluge overnight with 362mm falling, triggering warnings of life-threatening flash flooding.

Some parts of North Queensland have recorded four months’ rain in just 15 hours with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing warning for life-threatening flash flooding.

Stony Creek southwest of Townsville recorded 362mm from 9am Wednesday to midnight, a third of Townsville’s yearly rainfall.

An astonishing 131mm of that rain fell in just one hour from 8pm, while 277mm was recorded in three hours to 11pm.

Heavy rain ongoing around #Townsville this morning. Highest total so far 362mm at Stony Creek from 9am Wed until midnight. Severe Weather & Thunderstorm warnings current, Major Flood Warning for the Bohle River. Warnings: https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o
Rain: https://t.co/AVqQiRP4uupic.twitter.com/cjMFdqHzx2

— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 26, 2022

Heavy rain and severe storms continue to impact the region, with a severe weather warning issued at 3.40am Thursday for parts of North Tropical Coast, Tablelands, Herbert and Lower Burdekin and Central Coast and Whitsundays forecast districts.

Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is forecast to continue over coastal communities and islands between roughly Cardwell to Bowen through Thursday.

Heavy rain continues to fall across North Queensland. Picture: Windy

Six-hourly rainfall totals between 140 and 180mm are likely within the warning area.

Areas of heavy rainfall may extend northward over the Cassowary Coast overnight on Thursday and through Friday.

A Flood Watch for the area is also current.

FLOOD WARNING: Townsville police advise localised flooding affecting the Bruce Hwy and surrounds: Saunders creek, Deeragun, Innes Estate, Bohle areas. If it's flooded - forget it! #qldtrafficpic.twitter.com/bquuxmjUes

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) January 26, 2022

A local area of converging winds associated with the monsoon trough is currently located over coastal areas of the northeast tropical coast.

This system is forecast to remain slow-moving tonight and through Thursday before shifting north on Friday.

It followed a wet Australia Day for much of Queensland, with severe storm warnings issued for the southeast in the early afternoon.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Helen Kirkup said conditions would begin to clear for Thursday as the weather system slowly drifts west.

“In the southeast it could start to dry off tomorrow with showers returning later on Friday and into the weekend,” she said.

Overcast conditions would remain for Wednesday. Picture: Richard Walker

Brisbane was expected to reach a top of 28C on Wednesday with up to 6mm of rainfall.

On the Gold Coast there was a 60 per cent chance of rain while the Sunshine Coast had a 70 per cent chance of up to 8mm of falls.