Car washed away, dams spill as more heavy rain hits Qld

A motorist has had a lucky escape from floodwaters, overflowing dams are spilling and scores of roads are closed as Queensland mops up after another day of storms and heavy rainfall. SEE THE LIST OF ROAD CLOSURES

Scores of roads are closed across the southeast and central Queensland, following significant rainfall on Thursday and overnight.

The Transport and Main Roads Department website had logged at least 180 road closures due to flooding as of 8am Friday.

Regions heavily affected by road closures include Longreach, Quilpie, Isisford and Adavale.

Although there are at least 180 roads affected by floodwaters across Queensland, 48 are categorised as “high priority” by TMR.

On Thursday, a car was washed away and dams were overflowing after more tumultuous weather rocked the state.

A man had a lucky escape after his car was swept away in floodwaters in North Queensland early on Thursday morning.

A car is washed off the road at McLeod River Crossing, Mt Carbine. Picture: QFES

A good Samaritan came across the stricken vehicle while driving along the Mulligan Hwy in Mareeba about 4.45am.

After arriving at a flooded bridge along the highway at Mt Carbine, the driver noticed the tail-lights of a car submerged in the water below and proceeded to call police.

Cars that had stopped on either end of the bridge, unable to cross, watched as the vehicle slowly sank.

Motorists stranded due to floodwaters near Mareeba. Picture: QFES

But when Queensland Fire and Rescue Services arrived on scene they found the man had escaped his car and was sitting on its roof.

A swift water rescue operation was conducted, with the man reportedly in good health after the ordeal

The incident led QFES and police to remind motorists across the state that “if it’s flooded, forget it”.

“With more heavy rain expected in parts of Qld, this is a timely reminder that no matter how shallow you think the water is, you don’t know the risks,” QFES tweeted.

Another huge rain band dropped up to 85mm on the South East corner on Thursday, with Beachmere, north of Brisbane, recording 85mm since 9am, Strathpine 59mm and Deagon 54mm.

Further north Burpengary received 63mm and Narangba was drenched with 70mm, recording 51mm in an hour.

Ipswich also recorded 47mm in a couple of hours, while the Gold Coast appeared to escape most of the heavy rain, recording just 34mm in Upper Springbrook.

Seqwater’s flood operation centre activated at 6pm on Thursday night after 16 dams spilled over, with all now in excess of their catchment capacity.

Seqwater closed off Youngs Crossing at 6.30pm on Thursday to allow flood releases from the North Pine Dam near Strathpine, which has risen to 69.8 per cent capacity.

The South East’s water storage capacity is now sitting at a comfortable 69.6 per cent – a five per cent increase in just a week, with an average of 45mm of rainfall recorded in each catchment.

Weather bureau senior meteorologist Felim Hanniffy said the wet weather would ease in the South East into Friday.

“The majority of the rain has come this (Thursday) afternoon, but this is the price you pay, a bit of water to have the humid weather flushed out,” she said.

Humidity levels are expected to drop further on Friday, thanks to an easterly wind change and scattered showers along the coast.

“It’s quite a windy day (on Friday), particularly on the coast, with winds coming from an easterly direction,” Mr Hannify said.

“Coastal fine showers are likely but it’s expected to be drier inland.

“The weekend will be more restful with much lower humidity.”

Major South East Queensland roads were left flooded on Thursday afternoon, triggering significant traffic delays.

There were major delays on the Pacific Motorway at Eight Mile Plains in Brisbane’s south due to localised flooding there caused by a blocked drain, while flash flooding also impacted Illaweena St at Drewvale.