Australia Weather News

Large parts of western Queensland are on flood alert as a severe weather warning brings heavy rainfall, while residents downstream of a large dam in the state's north are preparing to leave as excess water spills. 

Excess water from Burdekin Falls Dam, near Ayr, is spilling into the Burdekin River with flows increasing significantly overnight.

Meanwhile the Bureau of Meteorology warns a tropical low is sitting over the south-eastern part of the Northern Territory, bringing the risk of heavy rainfall to the North West and Channel Country, which are already grappling with flooding. 

"The worst of it is just over the border in the Northern Territory with a low spinning away there and giving some heavy to locally intense rainfall," senior meteorologist Shane Kennedy said. 

The severe weather warning includes the possibility of six-hourly rainfall totals up to 80 millimetres, with localised falls up to 110mm. 

"We're not talking huge rainfall totals compared to the east coast … [but it's] certainly quite a lot for that south-west part of the state," Mr Kennedy said. 

There are major flood warnings for the Flinders River and Cape River, with moderate flood warnings for the Western River, Bulloo River, Georgina River, Isaac River, Thomson River and Cooper Creek. 

There is a flood watch for parts of the Gulf of Carpentaria and Cape York Peninsula, with the weather bureau warning flooding is likely to continue in coming days. 

More heavy falls on already saturated catchments could exacerbate flooding. 

'Unbelievable' rainfall totals

Angus and Donna Deane at Malboona Station, north of Longreach, received 96 millimetres over the weekend, adding to already "massive" falls on their property since the wet season began.

Mr Deane said he had received 950 millimetres since before Christmas – more than double his average annual rainfall and more reminiscent of the wet tropics than western Queensland.

"That is massive for any bushy," he said.

Nearby, Peter Ashman from Escombe Downs Station has endured drought and flood in the past two decades, but was hopeful this season would be the best since 2000.

He received 288 millimetres in January and 240 millimetres in February so far, which Mr Ashman said was on track to match the more than a metre of rain that fell 26 years ago.

"I've just never seen the humidity, the heat … it's just unbelievable," he said.

"That's all I can say: what a year."

Weekend rescues

Six people were rescued by swift water crews in Mount Isa in north-west Queensland on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to Miles End around 5.15pm after reports the group was stranded on a local oval.

The Queensland Fire Department said the rising Leichhardt River had forced the people to seek higher ground.

Meanwhile emergency services rescued four people trapped in a car at a river crossing in Cloncurry on Saturday afternoon.

Two people who were on the roof of the car were rescued by swift water rescue crews.

Two other occupants were able to escape the vehicle by themselves. 

Authorities are urging motorists to carefully check weather conditions, road closures and river heights while travelling across the region as the wet season continues.

Coastal forecast

Mr Kennedy said some showers were tipped for later in the week for coastal parts of Queensland. 

"Those showers will slowly start to build up over the next few days, along our eastern district south of about Proserpine," he said. 

"Fairly light, in general, but they'll slowly pick up day after day.

"Certainly much less than what the north-east saw last week, but we could still see some daily falls in that 10-30mm range for the next few days."

After mostly fine conditions to begin the week, parts of south-east Queensland could receive up to 30mm on Thursday and 30mm on Friday.