Australia Weather News

Thousands of residents in low-lying areas of the northern Gold Coast, Logan, and Beaudesert have fled their homes as torrential rain from the remnants of Cyclone Debbie hits local rivers.

Isolated falls of 600mm were gauged in 24 hours and winds picked up to a maximum 120kph — the strength of a category one cyclone — as the worst of the low-pressure system passed over the south-east on Thursday evening.

It moved off the coast early Friday morning, but has left a trail of damage and is pushing half a dozen rivers to a major flood level.

The Logan and Albert river catchments are overflowing after isolated falls in the Scenic Rim of 500mm overnight.

Thousands of people living on the northern Gold Coast have been asked to evacuate ahead of the Albert River flood peak at midday.

That includes low-lying areas of Alberton, Stapylton, Woongoolba, Gilberton and Steiglitz.

"Your home may not be inundated, but the floodwaters will be high for several days and you may be landlocked," Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said.

"Please evacuate and take care when driving."

Further north, parts of Beenleigh, in Logan, have been inundated by a sea of brown floodwater and the famous Yatala pie shop flooded to the roof.

The Logan and Albert rivers which run through it will reach a major flood, to a level not seen in 40 years.

About 100 properties, including 33 homes, have been evacuated. Low-lying areas of Logan City are also advised to move.

Further south, at Beaudesert, the Logan River peaked at 7:00am, hitting the same level as the 1991 record.

Beaudesert MP Jon Krause said the downpour was phenomenal.

"No people are in danger as this point, but certainly there's been a lot of property damage and stock lost," he said.

A number of train services have been suspended on the Beenleigh, Gold Coast, Ipswich and Sunshine Coast lines.

And, the southbound lanes of the M1 at Tugun were also closed on Friday afternoon.

Long night exhausts locals, animals missing

There have been 5,600 calls for help, including 1,300 since Thursday evening.

About 100 people have been plucked from floodwaters.

Sue from Mt Tamborine helped several friends evacuate early this morning.

"Water was about three-foot deep all through the bottom level of one house," she told ABC Radio Brisbane.

"Our other friends a bit further down — the water was halfway up the walls.

"All the animals were OK except for one horse that has gone missing."

Tallebudgera Valley has been cut off by floodwater. Parts of the Currumbin Valley are also under.

Rob told ABC Radio Gold Coast that at one point the water was 50 centimetres above the floorboards.

"That is the highest we have ever had in the eight years," he said.

Brett, who has cattle on a property near the Logan River at Beaudesert, was not sure how many of his animals had died in the extreme conditions.

"A hundred head, but they can't get to it," he said.

"They cut the fence on a few so they could swim but we won't know probably tomorrow until we can get to it."

Ipswich local Brett Waterhouse said floodwaters rose quickly this morning.

"There are some homes all the way around the Bremer, Leichhardt and so forth, that are pretty blocked in," he said.

"They're going to be stuck there for a few days."

Risk of home inundation in Jambin

In Central Queensland police door-knocked homes overnight, warning residents at Jambin of increased flows over the Callide Dam and the possible need to evacuate.

SunWater started releasing water from the dam yesterday, but said the releases were equal to the inflows

The Jambin School has been made available as a shelter if needed.

There is a major flood warning for the Bremer River and Lockyer, Laidley and Warrill Creeks, west of Brisbane.

But Lockyer Valley Mayor Tanya Milligan said they would not rise as high as feared, with yesterday's evacuation request cancelled.

The Brisbane River is only reaching a minor flood level.

Schools closed, bosses 'considerate'

Nearly 2,500 schools and early childhood centres in the south-east will remain closed today after they were closed during yesterday's rain emergency.

TAFE campuses from Bundaberg to the Gold Coast also remain closed.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll said it would be understandable if people affected by the severe weather did not go to work today.

"I think bosses when they see this will know what people are going through, they will be obviously considerate of the issue," she said.

BOM issues rivers warning

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a major flood warning for the Bremer River and Lockyer, Laidley and Warrill creeks.

But Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said now the rain had stopped he did not expect major flooding of the Bremer River similar to that six years ago.

"We've got to just wait for the peaks to hit, there's no more rain there," he said.

"In 2011 we had one big front and then straight afterwards we had another big bash at it."

Remote homes to remain without power for days

The biggest falls from ex-Cyclone Debbie in the south-east were recorded in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Upper Springbrook recorded 789mm in the 24 hours to midnight.

Energex said 170,000 properties were without power at the height of the storm, and 87,000 were yet to be reconnected.

Energex's Danny Donald said it could be some time before power is restored.

"With so many wires down this isn't going to be an easy fix of just switching a lever and pushing buttons," he said.

"There is going to be parts of south-east Queensland — particularly those in hinterland areas or isolated or heavily wooded areas — that are going to be without power for a number of days."