Man killed in Queensland storm with dangerous waves, flooding and gale force winds

A man has died in a storm where flash flooding and 8m waves have been recorded, with 100km/h force winds expected.

A man has died in Queensland’s southeast after he was swept away in a 1000km storm which continues to hammer the state.

Police found his body in Sandy Creek at Nanango, where QFES has issued an emergency alert for the entire South Burnett Regional Council due to flash flooding.

Police and QFES workers had been searching for a missing man who was washed away in his car by the heavy floodwaters.

The vehicle was reportedly swept into the floodwaters along Brown St about 5:30am, with the man’s body discovered at 8:15am.

Police are yet to formally identify the body, though they believe it belongs to a 47-year-old Nanango man.

Heavy rain has caused flash flooding in southeast Queensland. Picture: Supplied

It comes as parts of Queensland are dealing with a severe weather lashing due an east coast low, with 8m waves recorded overnight and 110km/h gale force winds possible.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued severe weather warnings for south east Queensland and northern New South Wales, putting a 1000km stretch of coast under a hazardous surf warning.

BOM has issued a minor flood warning from the Stanley River to Somerset Dam.

The Stanley River at Woodford is likely to reach the minor flood level (5m) during Friday afternoon, with rainfall totals of up to 120mm in the area since 9am on Thursday.

Isolated areas of flooding are expected along the Brisbane River to Wivenhoe Dam.

A gale warning is in place for Hervey Bay, Sunshine Coast waters, Moreton Bay and Gold Coast waters, while a storm force wind warning has been issued for the Capricornia coast and Fraser Island coast.

Wet weather and windy conditions on the Gold Coast as surfer enter the rough surf at Snapper Rocks. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

The BOM forecast winds of about 90km/h are possible around Fraser Island, Stradbroke and Moreton Islands and the exposed parts of the Sunshine Coast, though peak gusts on Fraser Island may reach 110km/h in the afternoon.

It comes as heavy surf smashes Queensland’s coast, leading to fears of localised damage and coastal erosion.

Waves that exceeded 8m were recorded at the Brisbane and Mooloolaba early on Friday morning, with average wave heights of more than 4m expected throughout the day.

A hazardous surf warning is in place for the Fraser Island coast, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast waters.

Maximum wave heights exceeding 8m hit the Brisbane wave monitoring site. Picture: Queensland government

Sky News meteorologist Alison Osborne said authorities are telling Queenslanders to postpone any planned trips to the beach.

“The advice is, particularly if you live on the more exposed parts of the coast from around Coffs Harbour to Fraser Island, to avoid the beaches. There’s a very high risk of coastal erosion, particular over these areas exposed to the south,” she said.

“Twenty-five to 50mm (of rain) from Fraser Island down to Moreton Island, therein is the risk of damaging winds and coastal erosion from massive waves. We’re talking 5, 6 to 7m in the surf zone and that will last for the rest of today.

“The forecast shows though that larger swell front will move away and heading into the end of the weekend we should start to see conditions rapidly improve.”

The east coast low is also affecting parts of NSW, with a gale warning issued for the Byron coast, and a strong wind warning in place for Coffs and Macquarie coast.

There is also a hazardous surf warning for the Byron and Coffs coast.

Wild weather is affecting Australia’s southeast coast, impacting Queensland and NSW. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Damaging surf with waves exceeding 5m are expected along Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, Ballina and Brunswick Heads later on Friday.

Surf Life Saving Australia has recommended that people stay out of the water and stay well away from surf-exposed areas.

The public has been told to regularly check their property for erosion or inundation by seawater, and raise goods and electrical items if necessary.

Originally published as Man killed in Queensland storm with dangerous waves, flooding and gale force winds