Two highways closed in Queensland storm cell

Two highways closed and theme parks flooded after ‘life-threatening’ supercell dumped 145mm of rain over southeast Queensland.

Two major highways are closed and theme parks are flooded after a “life-threatening” supercell dumped up to 145mm of rain over parts of southeast Queensland in just two hours on Saturday morning.

The sudden downpour caused flash flooding and forced authorities to issue a severe storm warning after 300mm of rain drenched parts of the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast overnight and into this morning.

The Cunningham Highway between Tarome and Maryvale and the M1 in both directions at Helensvale have both been closed due to flooding.

“Intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is likely,” the BoM warned earlier.

8 hours of rain on the #GoldCoast and we people in boats on the streets of Southport. 🚣‍♂️ ☔️ pic.twitter.com/2GWL4mdb2K

— Ricky Kroesen 🇦🇺 (@rickykroesen) January 17, 2020

According to the weather bureau, triple the monthly rainfall has fallen on the Gold Coast in the past 12 hours.

The SES, meanwhile, has responded to more than 100 call-outs on the Gold Coast alone, and another 60 between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

The Gold Coast City Council opened Nerang Bicentennial Centre in Southport as a place of refuge for residents who were required to evacuate overnight. 

“From fires to floods,” wrote Dr Kat McLean on Twitter. “Evacuation centre opened in Nov due to bushfires. Reopened today due to flooding.” 

🔥From fires to floods...⛈

Evacuation centre opened in Nov due to bushfires.

Reopened today due to flooding.

We’ve had 300 ml in 8 hours in the Gold Coast hinterland. Easing but more forecast this afternoon. #flooding pic.twitter.com/Y2oKJyiydA

— Kat McLean (@drkatmclean) January 17, 2020

“We’ve had 300ml in eight hours in the Gold Coast hinterland. Easing but more forecast this afternoon.” 

Two people had to be rescued after they attempted to drive through floodwaters on the Gold Coast, with police receiving more than 50 reports of flooded roads across the city.

Gold Coast theme parks MovieWorld and Wet n Wild will remain closed today due to severe flooding, while electricity provider Energx confirmed at least 649 customers had been affected by power outages.

The deluge hit the Gold Coast the hardest with 325mm of rain falling at Loders Creek and more than 200mm in the Gold Coast Hinterland, while 145mm of rain was recorded at Monterey Keys in just two hours and 86mm at Coomera Shores in one hour.

The immediate threat has now eased, but further severe storms are possible, according to the bureau.