Queensland Faces Heavy Rain and Urgent Flood Warnings: Is Your Area Prepared for the Deluge?

East Queensland is facing an ongoing rain emergency, prompting emergency alerts for residents to get ready for possible evacuations. Several rivers are under flood watch, as heavy rainfall persists, creating a precarious situation for local communities.

P24 News Media

December 18, 2024

1 minute

Queensland Faces Heavy Rain and Urgent Flood Warnings: Is Your Area Prepared for the Deluge?

India

The ongoing rain emergency in Queensland has escalated, compelling officials to issue an evacuation alert for certain residents, alongside multiple flood warnings pertaining to various rivers. The South East region was subjected to intense thunderstorms that unleashed further rainfall on already waterlogged ground, prompting the Queensland Police to send out an emergency alert specifically for the Western Downs Regional Council Area.

This alert indicates that flooding is occurring in Jandowae Creek, located near Dalby, and urges residents in low-lying regions to take immediate action to prepare for possible evacuation. The advisory advised locals to inform their neighbors, secure their possessions, and implement their emergency action plans without delay.

A separate “watch and act” alert was issued Wednesday night for the South Burnett region, where residents were cautioned about potential flash flooding threats. In Ipswich, Amberley recorded 191mm of rainfall over a span of 20 hours up until 5 a.m. Thursday, with other areas such as Upper Springbrook recording 120mm, Kobble Creek at 130mm, and Mackay receiving 105mm, reflecting the severity of the weather conditions faced across the region.

The Logan River, situated south of Brisbane, is currently under a significant flood warning as water levels continue to rise downstream of Beaudesert. The Bureau of Meteorology highlighted that the moderate to heavy rainfall experienced on Tuesday and Wednesday has resulted in minor to moderate flooding in the upper Logan River catchment area. Reports of moderate flooding have surfaced along the Logan River near Beaudesert, with expectations of peak water levels reaching critical flood status early Thursday morning.

In addition to the major flood warnings, multiple minor flood warnings have been issued for various rivers throughout the southeast region, extending along the coast from the Don River near Bowen down to Baffle Creek near Gladstone, as well as the Bremer River and Warrill Creek, both located west of Brisbane. After drenching South East Queensland for more than 48 hours, much of the severe weather has since shifted northward, with thunderstorm warnings now active for Gympie.

In the South Burnett area, several key highways, including sections of the Burnett and D’Aguilar highways, were closed Wednesday night due to localized flooding affecting the route between Kingaroy and Cooyar. In response to the hazardous conditions, swiftwater rescue teams from the Queensland Fire Department were able to execute two successful rescues at Merlwood in South Burnett, along with several other swiftwater operations across the southeast. Two vehicles became stranded in the floodwaters on Murgon-Gayndah Road, with one occupant rescued and others swiftly relocated to safety.

Further south, a man was rescued from floodwaters by nearby individuals after becoming trapped in the Lockyer Valley. It was reported that he found himself stranded on Jones Road in Withcott. Earlier in the day, the Bureau had issued severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of the Brisbane area, identifying Lake Samsonvale and Dayboro as the regions most likely to be adversely affected by the intense rainfall.

Looking forward, weather predictions suggest that Thursday will see improvements, with clearer conditions accompanying strong winds following a southerly change. Meteorologist Angus Hines has indicated that Southeast Queensland will experience a notable transition in weather over the next few days. Thursday is expected to bring drier conditions after some residual morning rainfall, which should dissipate by midday. Going into Friday and through the weekend, the forecast indicates a prolonged period of bright, sunny weather.

Overall, after the tumultuous weather on Thursday, there will likely be a stark contrast between northern Queensland, which may continue to see storms and rain, and the southeast, where sunny weather is anticipated.

Currently, active flood warnings include a major flood warning for the Logan River, moderate flood warnings for the Mary River, and a series of minor flood warnings for various rivers such as the Bremer River, Warrill Creek, Burnett River, and the Don River, among others. Moreover, final flood warnings are in place for the Baffle Creek, lower Barcoo River, and lower Condamine River, alongside an initial flood watch for select areas in the North Tropical Coast and Central Coast catchments.