Queensland weather: Over 200mm drenching, lingering storms to welcome the New Year
The southeast has been smashed by rainfall up to 571mm and access to the Pacific Motorway has been cut in two places as huge rainfall creates another wild weather emergency.
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South East Queensland faces 250mm more rain overnight after a New Year’s Eve deluge laid siege to the already storm-racked Gold Coast.
And Monday night’s Big Bash League match at the Gabba has finally been abandoned after organisers held out hope all day.
Earlier, a severe weather warning remained in place and multiple evacuations and rescues have been carried out, after more than 500mm of rain fell on parts of the Gold Coast.
Access to the Pacific Motorway has been cut at two places due to flash flooding.
The Courier-Mail understands those driving on the Pacific Motorway can still pass through Pimpama and Ormeau, however the on and off ramps are blocked due to flash flooding.
SCROLL DOWN FOR MAJOR ROAD CLOSURES, EVACUATION CENTRES
Homes are at risk of flooding and multiple roads have been closed following the overnight deluge, with forecasts that up to 200mm rain is still to fall on New Year’s Day.
Emergency Management Minister Nikki Boyd told a media conference on Wednesday up to 250mm more rainfall would lash South East Queensland overnight.
Evacuation centres have now opened in Nerang, Coomera and Tamborine Mountain.
More than 500 SES personnel have been deployed and three campgrounds evacuated to higher ground.
Ms Boyd said since Christmas, the SES has received more than 4000 calls for help, including 460 over the last 24 hours.
“We’re seeing a rapid onset of rainfall and the catchments are already quite saturated,” she said.
A total of 340 of those calls were in the Gold Coast Council areas, 40 in the Scenic Rim, 20 in Redland and 10 in Logan.
State Disaster Coordinator Shane Chelepy revealed Currumbin Creek had received 571mm of rainfall, while 350mm fell at Upper Springbrook, 161mm at Mount Tamborine and more than 375mm near Pimpama.
Other totals included Cedar Creek with 209mm over seven hours, North Tamborine 168mm and Wongawallen 188mm, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
The Coomera River at Clagiraba Rd in the hinterland reached major flooding levels and peaked at 6.57m on Monday morning, before slowly receding in the afternoon.
The Pimpama River at Stewarts Road peaked at 3.48m early on Monday afternoon, before the water level fell during the following hours.
Fifteen people are waiting to be rescued from Thunderbird Park at Mount Tamborine with the SES already evacuating more than 300 campers from two other campgrounds.
Energex crews were stood down from midmorning Monday, with Mr Chelepy saying the dangerous conditions and rapid floodwaters were isolating houses and communities “very quickly”.
“We’re seeing landslides occurring on our roadways, we’re seeing washouts,” he said.
An additional request for clean-up support resources has been made to the Australian Government, “most likely this evening,” Mr Chelepy said.
“We now know the clean up is going to be far greater than the clean-up we had from Christmas Day and Boxing Day,” he said.
Speaking to the numerous calls for the Australian Defence Force to be deployed, Mr Chelepy said it would be up to the federal government to determine what kind of support was given to Queensland during the back-to-back crises.
“It really is about the task you are trying to achieve in the community,” he said. “Yesterday, we had a conversation about the potential use of ADF generators to support our generation network, but working with Energy Queensland it was determined the generator support we could get through the AFD did not suit our network, wasn’t of sufficient capacity for the network, but then we also looked at private contractor arrangement … which we could get in quicker.”
Meanwhile, QFES has conducted 10 swift water rescues since Monday morning.
QFES Deputy Commissioner Kevin Walsh said the rain event was expected to continue for the next 24 hours.
He pleaded with residents to stay at home and off the roads.
“If there is no compelling reason to be out on the road, can I suggest, over the next 12 hours at least, people stay in their homes,” he said.
“I can’t express the importance enough (for) people staying home over the next 12 hours.”
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll reiterated the message to stay home, and for boaties to stay out of the water.
“We are asking that boaties please stay off Logan, Albert, Nerang and Coomera Rivers,” she said.
Additional police have been sent to conduct high visibility patrols in Tamborine Mountain, which has been without power for days.
Three people have been rescued from a home in Wongawallan after their property became flooded.
A QFES spokesman said as of noon, all three occupants of the home had been extricated to drier ground.
Pimpama resident Kylee Koszo says flooding in her suburb is the worst she’s seen in more than a decade.
Parts of Bodacious Terrace and Deepak Drive were underwater at around 10am, with levels still rising.
“The streets around us are flooding the worst we have ever seen and we have lived here for 12 years,” Ms Koszo said.
“Behind us is Willow Vale and Hotham Creek Rd is almost under.
“We are totally shocked.”
In the three hours since 9am, Wongawallan had received one of the highest rainfall totals in the Gold Coast region, copping 113mm.
Brisbane Heat said on Monday afternoon the BBL clash against the Sydney Sixers at the Gabba would proceed from 6.15pm.
Despite the threat of rain casting doubt over the game, the Heat took to social media to update its legion of fans.
“A final call on the match will not be made until 8.15pm as play can be delayed up to two hours,” the 12.50pm post read.
“The Gabba has not experienced any heavy rain today and we know the outfield drainage is the best in the country.
“Rain can sometimes delay game play, but in a vast majority of cases we will still get enough overs in to deliver a match result.”
It comes as the Australian Defence Force could be deployed to storm-ravaged communities amid the continuing threat of severe thunderstorms and flash flooding.
The Bureau of Meteorology at 10.55am issued a severe weather warning for the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast, saying heavy to intense rain was likely.
“This may lead to dangerous and potentially life-threatening flash flooding and risk of landslips around steeper terrain,” the warning said.
A severe thunderstorm forecast has also been issued, saying severe thunderstorms that could produce heavy rain, large hailstones and damaging wind are ‘likely” across the same area.
Similar conditions are possible throughout the northern and central southwest of Queensland, too.
Worongary resident Jonathan Kinderman has shared devastating vision on social media of his home surrounded by raging floodwaters.
“At 4.45am, I woke up to rapids at our back door – I had to wake up our four small kids and jump the fence to our neighbour on higher ground as roads were also flooded,” Mr Kinderman said.
He added that while they had not received much damage from the Christmas storms that battered the Gold Coast, they had no power for five days.
By 10am on New Year’s Day, more than 200mm of rain drenched areas such as Worongary, where residents such as Mr Kinderman have faced water flooding into their home.
Mr Kinderman said they had received no warning for the heavy rainfall and flooding.
“We just heard the rain and noticed the flood level rising,” he said.
“Lost most of the house and the back of the property.”
The oval at the Ormeau Bulldogs AFL Club was partially underwater this morning after intense rainfall in the region.
After the water receded, resident Kurt Nilsen said there was a lot of fence damage and debris left on the oval.
Matty Mash said the “Bulldogs spirit will rise again.”
Redland Bay resident Rebecca Taylor said her rain gauge has been overflowing since 8.00am this morning.
Gracemere resident Cherylee Randall described the storms today as similar to “mini cyclones”.
“Yep right now worse than yesterday these storms like mini cyclones. Came from the west of Gracemere where we live,” she said.
As of 9am Monday, the Bureau recorded 193mm in 24 hours at Worongary Creek causing major flash flooding to the area.
“I believe the water levels have dropped, but more rain is expected to come,” he said. State Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace on Monday revealed Queensland’s Disaster Co-ordinator Shane Chelepy was in talks with the federal government about whether the defence force was required.
“We’re talking about the Army Reserves and the army veterans coming in as well,” Ms Grace said.
“(Mr) Chelepy is speaking with the ADF about how they might be able to come into assist as well.
“We’re trying to get as many hands on deck as we possibly can.”
Flood warnings have been issued for the Nerang and Coomera rivers, with rapid creek and river level rises occurring in their catchments.
The Bureau reported Currumbin Creek received 501mm of rain in the 24 hours from 9am on Sunday, while other major totals included 389mm at Upper Springbrook, 276mm at Little Nerang Dam and 215mm at Binna Burra.
Movie World and Wet n Wild have been forced to close their doors once again due to severe weather.
After just reopening following their Boxing Day closures due to the Christmas Day storm damage, major flooding and heavy rain have caused the parks to close for a second time during their peak season.
Both theme parks took to social media Monday morning to notify the public.
“Due to severe weather, Warner Bros. Movie World will be closed today for the safety and wellbeing of our team members and guests. We anticipate reopening tomorrow and will provide updates on our social media,” the post said.
Emergency services are responding to multiple swift water rescues across the Coast including a number of properties under threat from rising flood waters in Wongawallan, Mount Tamborine and Cedar Creek.
Homes across Pimpama are also at risk of flooding as the water level continues to rise.
Emergency crews were called to a residence on Cedar Creek Rd in Cedar Creek following reports of a house with floodwaters affecting it.
More crews were called to Caballo Road in Wongawallan at 10.55am with reports of water going through a home.
A QFES spokesman said powerlines were down in the area and crews were working to gain access to the property.
QFES has evacuated “multiple” campers who have become stranded by floodwaters at Numinbah Valley and Natural Bridge on the Gold Coast.
A QFES spokeswoman said all people were accounted for and had been moved to an evacuation area.
A man who was reportedly trapped in floodwaters at about 7.20am north of Clagiraba has been found and rescued by SES services.
It is understood several campsites on the Gold Coast have become “islands” following recent storms.
The Bureau has also issued a severe weather warning for the Gold Coast with localised intense rainfall likely to lead to “dangerous, life-threatening flash flooding”.
The warning said the system could bring localised intense rainfall leading to dangerous and life threatening flash flooding during this period with six-hourly rainfall totals between 150 and 250mm possible.
“The system is very slow moving which has increased flood risk,” it said.
“There are pockets further north where it’s wet, but not so much the isolated heavy rainfall.”
Ms Grace called for Queenslanders to call for help amid the torrential weather on New Year’s Day.
“We’ve had some areas of the Gold Coast experience over 300mm of rain, particularly in the upper Springbrook area,” she said.
“Stay away from flood drains, if power lines are down you must assume those power lines are active.
“Please, if it’s flooded, forget it – do not drive through floodwaters.”
Ms Grace said some Jimboomba and Mount Tamborine residents remained without power, with Energex crews “having to rebuild the network”.
“We’ve got every available crew on deck … but obviously weather like today and the severe weather warning is causing a bit of havoc with that,” she said.
“We know there is more to go and it’s going to take a few more days before we can get full power installed in some of those areas that have been very hard hit.”
Gold Coast City Council has opened two sandbag stations on Monday following extensive flash flooding across the city.
The council has also warned flash flooding could see impacts to public transport.
“It has been another wild night and as at 4.51am the Bureau of Meteorology has warned of serious thunderstorms with risk of life-threatening flash flooding across the Gold Coast,” the warning said.
“Emergency services advise people to go inside a strong building now … stay inside until the storm has passed.
“Tell friends, family and neighbours in the area.
“Charge mobile phones and power banks in case the power goes out.
“Do not drive now unless you have to because conditions are dangerous.”
Emergency services were called a stricken bus, caught in floodwaters on Siganto Drive near Helensvale Rd in Helensvale about 9am.
Firefighters have called off rescue attempts with conditions too dangerous to try to recover the TransLink vehicle.
Nobody is believed to have been on board.
The Coomera River at Clagiraba (Gold Coast Hinterland) has risen around six metres in just a few hours, pushing it well above the major flood height.
Residents in the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim regions still waiting for the return of power may be subject to delays due to the rain and lingering storms.
SES had more than 140 call-outs on Sunday with the majority in the Gold Coast region
In the hour to 7.30am, Hotham Creek recorded 74mm, Norwell 54mm and Wongawallan 49mm.
QFES on Monday released an emergency alert for the Scenic Rim after warnings of heavy rainfall which could lead to flash flooding was forecast.
“We have continued the warning from Sunday night for the southeast for isolated heavy rainfall and some thunderstorms,” a spokeswoman said.
“There is also a flood watch for a lot of rivers which could have the potential for flash flooding.”
Energex at 10.30am released an update to its power restoration in the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim region.
“Overnight we were able to restore power to another 2700 homes, but falls of up to 300mm, fast-rising waterways, and more heavy rain coming is forcing us to reassess our approach for the next day or so,” Energex posted.
The post revealed there have been 110,000 lightning strikes in the latest round of storms in the southeast and has forced crews to halt their work on restoring power.
“We can’t and we won’t endanger our people,” the post said.
Lightning data has revealed just how severe this summer has been for the region in terms of thunderstorm activity.
According to Energex, in the last half of December 2022, southeast Queensland recorded 38,000 lightning strikes and for the same period in 2023 the southeast recorded 3.5 million strikes.
Frustrated residents from areas on the Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim hit hardest during the Christmas Day storm have called for the defence force to help stretched State Emergency Service crews clear fallen trees and repair damage.
Ms Grace said she had spoken to federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt, who would be “liaising with the ADF about how we can get them quickly online if that’s what we require”.
The Bureau’s Helen Reid said New Year’s Day and the first week of January would be a wet and stormy one for much of the state.
“Overnight and into (Monday) there have been storms and lots of rain, particularly through Brisbane’s south and into NSW as well” Ms Reid said.
“Rainfall figures are already hitting hundreds of millimetres in parts of Queensland.”
Northern parts of the state towards the Goldfields, West Townsville and the central west can also expect a lot of rainfall early this week.
The central coast and Whitsundays are looking at rainfall and added thunderstorm activity on Monday and potentially through to Tuesday.
“Even inland is expected to have some heavy rainfalls with thunderstorms, including as far west as Longreach,” Ms Reid said.
“A large area of the state can expect to get some thunderstorms and rain today and into the week.”
Heavy rain is expected to continue throughout Monday, as well as potential thunderstorms as the sun begins to heat the system.
Tuesday is expected to be a fairly wet day for the state with conditions easing into Wednesday.
“This week is looking to be a wet and stormy one … Thursday could bring a brief break in the thunderstorms, however they are predicted to pick back up again for the weekend,” Ms Reid said.
Gold Coast City Council has reported 41 road closures across the city including:
• Pacific Motorway, on and off-ramps at Ormeau
• Pacific Motorway, on and off-ramps at Pimpama
• Pacific Motorway, Tugun
• Pacific Motorway On Ramp, Ormeau
• Nerang Murwillumbah Rd, Advancetown/Natural Bridge
• Gold Coast Springbrook Rd, Mudgeeraba
• Hardys Rd, Bonogin/Mudgeeraba
• Gold Coast Springbrook Rd, Mudgeeraba
• Berrigans Rd, Mudgeeraba
• Gunsynd Drive, Mudgeeraba
• Vince Hinde Drive, Worongary
• Highfield Drive, Merrimac/Robina
• Clagiraba Rd, Clagiraba
• Somerset Drive, Mudgeeraba
• Bonogin Rd, Bonogin
• Birds Rd, Maudsland
EVACUATION CENTRES
Coomera Indoor Sports Centre, 35 Beattie Rd, Coomera – Available from 3pm
Nerang Bicentennial Community Centre, 833 Southport Nerang Rd, Nerang – Available from 3pm
We encourage you to first seek shelter with friends and family where possible as space is limited.
Caged domestic pets are welcome, please bring food for them, but people are the first priority for shelter.
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