An emergency warning has been issued for the Sunshine Coast as the region is hit by flash flooding.
Queensland Police has urged residents to reconsider the need to travel as roads and bridges are impacted by the deluge, and warned against driving through floodwaters.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued a flood watch for the area as heavy rainfall and “life-threatening” weather continues to wreak havoc across Queensland’s south-east coast.
The warning comes after intense floodwaters have left residents stranded and calling for help.
The Sunshine Coast copped the brunt of the mayhem overnight, with a whopping 400mm of rain falling across parts of the region in the space of just three hours.
Queensland emergency services have been inundated with calls for help, with reports of fallen trees, damaged homes and residents needing rescue from rising floodwaters.
One family based in north-east Gympie are reportedly totally stranded inside their home surrounded by deluge.
“They say they are calling for help. They say they are stuck in their house surrounded by floodwaters,” 9News reporter Mia Glover said.
“Police are on their way to see what the situation is there.”
Floodwaters have particularly lashed areas such as Noosa, Cooroy, Pomona, Kenilworth and Tanawha, with residents warned to practice caution throughout the day and monitor conditions closely.
That weather system is now expected to shift down to the Gold Coast today, where residents have been told to brace for extremely heavy rainfall, potential flash floods and hazardous winds.
“Intense rainfall leading to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is possible during this period with six-hourly rainfall totals up to 300 mm,” the BoM said.
“Flash flooding is expected to redevelop later today and continue through Thursday.
“Locations which may be affected include Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Maroochydore, Gympie, Caboolture, Coolangatta and Ipswich.”
As of this morning there has been 392mm of rain recorded at Mt Wolvi, 352mm at Cedar Pocket, 350mm at Pomona 322mm at Cooran, 312mm at Black Mountain, 169mm at Nambour, 100mm at Mt Cotton and 31mm in Brisbane.
“Flash flooding is expected to redevelop later today and continue through Thursday.
“Locations which may be affected include Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Maroochydore, Gympie, Caboolture, Coolangatta and Ipswich.”
As of this morning there has been 392mm of rain recorded at Mt Wolvi, 352mm at Cedar Pocket, 350mm at Pomona 322mm at Cooran, 312mm at Black Mountain, 169mm at Nambour, 100mm at Mt Cotton and 31mm in Brisbane.
