BOM said Toowoomba in for wet week, pockets of intense rain

The good news for farmers is that the weather will last until the weekend, bringing decent falls to much of the Darling Downs and the Maranoa.

Heavy rain brought flash flooding to Jandowae, with up to 86mm of rain recorded in the past two days.

Thunderstorms lurking in a large rain band that stretched across southern Queensland are to blame from dumping more than 80mm of rain on Jandowae in the past two days.

The deluge brought widespread flash flooding and filled the town’s dam.

Other towns received much less, with 33mm in Withcott, 27mm in Oakey, 27mm in Gatton and 23mm at the Toowoomba Airport, in the past 24 hours.

Despite the heavy falls SES Southwest Region Area Control Ian Phipps said there were relatively few calls for service.

“We only had one in Jandowae, from someone wanting sandbags,” he said.

There were several calls to Toowoomba homes, mostly for leaking roofs.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a wet week ahead for the region with Toowoomba likely to be the most southern extent of a large rain band that will creep west.

Roma, Charleville, the northern Maranoa and northern Darling Downs are likely to be hit by pockets of intense rain, brought by sporadic thunderstorms.

Mr Phipps said the risk of flash flooding would increase as the week rolled on and the countryside became waterlogged.

“We are prepared for it,” he said.

“We are just watching to see where the rain hits as southern and Central Queensland are in for lots of storm activity.”

In the meantime, Mr Phipps urged residents to take advantage of breaks in the rain to secure their property.

“Makes sure your gutters are clear and anything that can be picked up by the wind is tied down,” he said.