Australia Weather News

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding across parts of south-east Queensland this afternoon, according to the weather bureau. 

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Ipswich, Somerset, Western Downs, Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley and the Scenic Rim.

Sandbagging stations have opened as councils across the region brace for a deluge of up to 150mm during the next 24 hours.

The bureau has also issued a severe weather warning for areas stretching south from the Sunshine Coast to the New South Wales border, and inland to Tara on the Darling Downs and Granite Belt.

Areas potentially impacted include the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Dalby, Kingaroy, Caboolture, Ipswich, Gatton, Cleveland, Cherbourg, Jimboomba and Kilcoy.

Between 50mm and 90mm of rainfall is likely over six hours from Thursday night, with isolated falls of 150mm possible across Friday.

Minor to moderate flooding is possible in catchments in south-east Queensland and the Wide Bay and Burnett across the weekend.

Catchments likely to be impacted include the Logan and Albert rivers, the Lower and Upper Brisbane rivers, the Mary River, the Dawson and Don rivers, along with rivers and creeks throughout the Gold Coast.

Isolated major flooding is possible in areas with the highest rainfall.

"Catchments are relatively dry within the Flood Watch area, which may initially slow the response to rainfall; however, river level rises and areas of flooding are likely across the Flood Watch area," the warning states.

Earlier on Thursday, BOM said that Brisbane could see isolated totals of 150mm, with 210mm between Friday and Sunday possible.

Gold Coast bracing for heavy rains

The Gold Coast city council has issued a prepare now alert for residents amid the forecast rain. 

Acting mayor Mark Hammel said it was still uncertain how much rain would hit the region.

"What we do know is that there's a chance of there being a lot of rain in a very short period. That brings the opportunities for flash flooding to occur," he said.

"Where those falls will occur in the city, you can't predict that yet."

He urged residents to start preparing before the deluge arrives.

"We know it's been very dry, you might not have thought about your gutters recently, there might be a build-up of sticks and branches near where your stormwater outlet is out in the road," he said.

Gold Coast council has opened sandbagging stations at the Old Pacific Highway in Pimpama, the Carrara Sports Precinct, and Boyd Street in Bilinga.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the Darling Downs and Granite Belt, around Tara and Chinchilla, on Thursday afternoon.

It warned that heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding.

Minor flood warnings have been issued for the creek at Windorah and the Diamantina River at Birdsville in Western Queensland.