Australia Weather News

It may not be the most welcome weather at the beach, but out in the west, rain is the best Christmas gift.

Rain is on the Christmas forecast across much of Queensland due to a band of cloud stretching across the state.

"It's pretty much raining in a lot of places," senior meteorologist Baden Gilbert said.

Rainfall totals of up to 95 millimetres have been recorded in the past 24 hours in the north-west.

The weather bureau has issued a flood watch for the north-west as a monsoon trough brings showers and thunderstorms for the rest of the week.

Several rivers will likely flood, closing roads and isolating communities.

"We're going to see persistent multi-day decent totals across large parts of the north-west of the state," Mr Baden said.

But graziers around outback Queensland could not be happier.

"It's been flirting with us for about a week … really hot and humid," said Jack Neilson from Two Rivers station, north of Boulia.

"You probably couldn't get anything better than watching the Aussies annihilate England while it's raining outside in the north-west."

'Best Chrissie present'

At Belmont Station near Winton, Bob Elliot said some families would have to change their Christmas plans — but that was not a bad thing.

"It's the best Chrissie present you can get … our livelihoods depend on it," he said.

"The rain has already changed my plans; I was meant to go to Cairns … I think I'll sit back and enjoy the rain this Christmas."

Further north, lightning strikes burnt more than 2,000 hectares of country on one cattle station last week.

"The rain is well received on that burnt country, especially; it will give it a good chance of getting started again," said Deborah Smith from Limbri Downs Station.

"I was supposed to go and get some fresh fruit and vegetables for Christmas, but that's not happening, not today anyway."

South-east swelter

Shifting to the south-east, meteorologist Mr Gilbert said severe thunderstorms were also forecast today around the Wide Bay Burnett region, Capricornia, Central Highlands, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

The weather bureau said there is the potential for heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding.

Thunderstorms are also possible in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Brisbane.

"Christmas Day, we're still forecasting a similar area to have showers and storms from the Sunshine Coast northwards, but definitely not ruling out storms about the south-east coast."

High humidity is being drawn over Queensland by the monsoon trough.

A heatwave warning is current for the south-east coast, contracting out of the Darling Downs but lingering around Gympie and Kingaroy.

This is expected to ease on Boxing Day, but it's a hot, soggy and wet Christmas day ahead for most of the state.

"I reckon if you're out in Thargomindah, you've probably got a nice sunny day on the forecast, or maybe St George or Cunnamulla, even the western downs," Mr Baden said.