Flooding risk remains as some rivers hit 2011 flood levels

More than a dozen people have been rescued in swift water rescues over the past 24 hours after localised heavy rain from the remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred lashed southeast Queensland.

Northey Street, Windsor on Monday. Picture: John Gass

More than a dozen people have been rescued in swift water rescues over the past 24 hours after localised heavy rain from the remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred lashed southeast Queensland and put several communities throughout the region on emergency alert.

Emergency services made 17 swiftwater rescues, with several needed at the Sunshine Coast overnight after residents were trapped in their homes and cars by sustained rains that dropped 300mm across southeast Queensland.

Rivers and creeks are now threatening to overflow as some approach 2011 flood levels. Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Christie Johnson said the “elongated” low pressure system was slowly tracking south west, with several more days of intense rainfall to come.

“The Lockyer Valley is still in the firing line,” she said. “Toowoomba and Warwick in Queensland and along the border regions of NSW could expect intense rainfall of 50 to 150mm in the next 24 hours,” she said.

Water pooling in areas of Brisbane following the impact of ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Picture Sean Callinan

Ms Johnson said intense rainfall and flash flooding ravaged south east Queensland overnight.

“In the last 24 hours we’ve seen widespread 200mm to 400mm falls across the Gold Coast, the Brisbane area, the Sunshine Coast, the Scenic Rim and out into the Lockyer Valley.”

In the 24 hours to 9am, Diamond Valley in the Sunshine Coast topped rainfall totals with 413mm, 410mm fell at Wongawallan on the Gold Coast, and Chapel Hill in Brisbane received 361mm.

Brisbane’s western suburbs were on high alert as heavy rain overnight threatens to force creeks throughout southeast Queensland to overflow. A ‘prepare to leave’ emergency alert was active on Monday for the suburb of Kenmore over fears the Gubberley Creek Detention Basin may fail.

Residents surrounding the Enoggera Dam and Oxley Creek are also on ‘watch and act’ alerts over potential flash flooding.

People walking through water in Collingwood St, Albion on Monday. Picture: John Gass

The Lockyer and Laidley Rivers, west of Brisbane are continuing to rise quickly and are approaching February 2011 flood levels. The Bremer River at Ipswich is approaching Ipswich March 2017 flood levels, while the Logan and Albert Rivers are creating major flooding around Beenleigh.

The Brisbane River faces a minor flood warning. The local council has suspended river ferry and most bus services until further notice due to the continued severe weather conditions.

More than 206,000 properties are still without power throughout southeast Queensland as crews from energy supplier Energex work to reconnect homes to the grid. Around 64,500 Gold Coast households are waiting to be reconnected, as are a further 43,529 homes in Brisbane. Approximately 32,600 properties in both Moreton Bay and Redlands are without power.

Sixty thousand homes have already had their lights switched back on.

Brisbane City Council has suspended river ferry and most bus services until further notice due to the continued severe weather conditions.