Darling Downs to cop a drenching as big weather system settles in

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service is bracing for a dangerous two days as a large and violent weather system moves across the region.

Cecil Plains SES team members Scott Bradley and Patrick Fox practice flood boat operations at the Cecil Plains. They could be called on to assist stranded people over the coming days with big storms forecast across the Darling Downs.

Flash flooding, damaging winds and hail is expected to lash much of the Darling Downs and Granite Belt for the next two days.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast wild weather and flooding from 6pm, Wednesday November 10 as a large weather system begins to move across the region.

“A complex low pressure system is expected to develop over Central Australia causing an outbreak of thunderstorms with heavy rainfall in southern Queensland.

The risk of heavy rainfall will gradually move eastward over country already saturated by recent rain.

The heaviest rainfall expected across the Darling Downs and Granite Belt region will be on Thursday.

Most systems in southwest Queensland are likely to be affected, including the Condamine, Macintyre, Balonne, Paroo, Moonie and Thomson Rivers.

SES Southwest Region Area Controller Dave Bennett said the region’s moisture profile is not at the levels of the 2011 and 2013 floods, but it is soaked through.

“All the SES groups are preparing their storm supplies including tarps, ropes to make sure they can meet the needs of the community,” he said.

“The flood boats are ready to rock and roll.”

There have been reports of flash flooding across the Dalby, Tara and Goondiwindi areas, with SES crews called to assist in the past 24 hours.

In the lead up to the storms Mr Bennett is calling on all residents to take precautions now.

“Get your houses ready, check your gutters, make sure materials outside are secure and have your emergency kits ready,” he said.

“Monitor the alerts that BOM is providing.”

“Remember, if it’s flooded, forget it.”

Originally published as Darling Downs to cop a drenching as big weather system settles in