Fire crews called to car in floodwaters at Strathdickie

Emergency crews were called to a man trapped on top of his car in floodwaters in the Whitsundays as school bus services were cancelled and residents urged to keep off flooded roads.

Fire crews were called to Jorgensen Rd, Strathdickie, where a man was trapped on top of his car in floodwaters. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Emergency crews were called to a man stranded on top of his car in floodwaters after the Whitsunday region was drenched by the current weather system hanging off the Queensland coast.

A Queensland Fire Department spokesman confirmed two crews to called to Jorgensen Rd, Strathdickie, arriving about 11.05pm Wednesday.

Emergency crews were called for a car in water and arrived to a man sitting on his car, which was about one metre off the bank.
Swiftwater rescue crews were not called.

The man was helped off the vehicle with QFD crews leaving by 11.20pm.

Paramedics assessed the man in his 70s but did not need to transport him to hospital.

The local council warned there was water over Shute Harbour Road at Hamilton Plains. The road remains open but motorists are urged to drive with caution.

Vehicles driving on Shute Harbour Road at Hamilton Plains on Thursday morning.

Due to risk of flooding, Whitsunday Transit advised that Proserpine State, Proserpine High, Saint Catherines and S5 Cannonvale State School Bus Services will not be running today.

Buses are still running for Cannonvale State School and Whitsunday Christian College.

Further north the SES received more than 40 callouts overnight, mostly in Gordonvale and Yarrabah areas in Far North Queensland - most needed help with tarps and sandbags, while others needed help through floodwaters.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jonathan How said there was a 25 per cent chance the low hanging off the coast would become a cyclone by Saturday - it was expected to gather momentum over the next 24-48 hours.

Weather forecasters say there is the potential for five tropical lows to form over northern Australian waters this week – including three over Queensland – increasing the risk of heavy rainfall and tropical cyclones.