Rain, Floods Persist in SE Qld

Taking a look at the last 12 hours or so of our radar data, we can see that rain streaming in from the north-west across those central and south-eastern parts of the state in the last 24 hours or so. We didn't really see too much in terms of thunderstorm activity. This was mostly persistent rain in that afternoon period yesterday and continuing overnight.

Looking at our rainfall totals from the 24 hours to 9am this morning, we can see that most of the heavier falls were focused across the Wide Bay-Burnett, catching parts of the Sunshine Coast, southern Capricornia and the Central Highlands and Coalfields. Widespread falls of 80 mm to 150 mm were seen in this period, with isolated totals much higher.

In terms of the south-east coast, Brisbane suburbs to the north of the city did see some moderate to locally heavy falls, but the numbers weren't quite as high as those areas further north. The top totals in the 24 hours to 9am this morning topped out at around 260 mm at a location called Brovinia, but we did have around 190 mm almost at Emerald, 184 mm at Gympie in that period.

Further heavy rain is expected today. We do still have a Severe Weather Warning current covering parts of the Wide Bay-Burnett, Capricornia and Central Highlands and Coalfields. This warning flags the risk of heavy to locally intense rainfall and damaging wind gusts.

Now in terms of the rain in our warning area, we're looking at six-hourly rainfall totals through the rest of today in that 60 mm to 90 mm range, with isolated six-hourly falls much higher. Those rain rates are certainly high enough to cause further flash flooding through our warning areas today.

In terms of wind gusts, we could see some gusty, possibly damaging winds developing this afternoon and evening across parts of Capricornia and Wide Bay-Burnett. Wind gusts of this strength can bring down trees and tree limbs, particularly where it's combining with those heavy rainfalls.

This wet weather is continuing to be driven by a low pressure trough and the remnants of a tropical low moving over the area. You can see just how much moisture is being drawn in around these systems, funnelling it across our warning areas today.

In fact, across coastal and inland parts of our warning, we may even see intense rainfall. That's rain rates so high it could lead to that dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding.

It's a good idea today to keep a close eye on the radar and keep a close eye on the Bureau's warnings page, as we will issue further warnings as needed depending on the rainfall we see coming through.

Now through the later part of the day, we are likely to see that trough moving gradually offshore, taking the bulk of the rainfall with it. It's still likely to be wet through that evening period, but the rain should be starting to ease off, and as we go overnight we'll see that trend continuing.

By tomorrow morning, we're left with much patchier seasonal showers up the south-east coast. So really the wet weather is confined to Monday. By Tuesday, we should be in for much lower rainfall totals through our south-eastern areas.

Taking a look at some of our expected rainfall totals between midnight last night and tomorrow morning, we can see that focus of the rainfall. Fairly widespread moderate to high rainfall totals are expected over the next 24 hours or so, but the highest falls are most likely about some of those coastal parts. Of course, it will depend on whether we see those intense falls across the next 24 hours or so.

Now this, of course, has led to significant riverine flooding already developing through many of those south-eastern areas. We do have Major Flood Warnings already in place for the Charleys Creek, Stuart and Boyne rivers, Barker and Barambah creeks, and the Mary River downstream of Gympie.

A number of other Minor to Moderate Flood Warnings are already in place for those south-eastern parts of the state, and it's likely as rain continues to fall today that we will see further updates to our riverine flooding and our riverine flooding warnings.

You'll always be able to find the latest on the Bureau's website and via the BOM Weather app. Stay safe during this wet day and we'll catch you next time.