Record-breaking Queensland deluge moves south, putting NSW in firing line

South-east Queensland was hit by a fresh deluge on Friday after historic October rainfall records were shattered across the region, and parts of NSW are now in the firing line.

While conditions eased over the day, the storm dumped upwards of 300 millimetres of rain across parts of the region, more than three times the amount originally forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology.

Weatherzone reported that the heavy rainfall broke several October records, and wet conditions will persist into the weekend.

It reported that at least eight weather stations recorded rainfall totals surpassing 300 millimetres from 9am on Wednesday to 9am on Friday.

Sheep Station Creek saw more than 340 millimetres of rain, including a 263-millimetre downpour on Thursday alone.

Nambour recorded 401 millimetres up to Friday morning, smashing its previous 1952 record of 370.6 millimetres, while Beerburrum recorded 354.2 millimetres to shatter an October benchmark set in 1898.

Forecasters warn that despite the historic totals already recorded, further widespread rain and thunderstorm activity are set to develop across the state heading into the weekend.

Daring rescues as SES warns NSW could be next

After responding to more than 200 calls across Queensland, the SES has urged NSW communities to brace for severe thunderstorms, warning the conditions might bring flash flooding and storm damage.

NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Nicole Hogan said the damaging wings and heavy rainfall could bring down trees and powerlines, damage roofs and cause flash flooding with little to no warning.

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“Secure loose outdoor items, move vehicles undercover where possible and clear gutters and drains if safe, before storms arrive. 

“Storms may arrive in more than one wave. Keep checking conditions through Sunday night and into next week.” 

More than half of the calls may to the SES during the wild weather came from the Moreton region.

According to the Department of Education, all public schools have been reopened on Friday.

While the worst of the sudden downpours has passed, BoM senior meteorologist Angus Hines warned that rain would keep falling across eastern Queensland throughout the day.

“Widespread rain and storms through much of the east, but not as much rain as what we’ve already seen falling [Thursday] morning,” Hines said.

A severe thunderstorm warning remains active around Rolleston in the Central Highlands, south-west of Rockhampton, alongside multiple riverine flood warnings statewide.

The fresh rainfall comes on top of staggering totals, with close to 300mm falling across the south-east over Wednesday and Thursday.

Brisbane could cop an additional 40mm on Friday, with the south-east coast remaining on high alert for further severe thunderstorms.

Unsettled weather is set to linger through the weekend and into early next week as the system tracks further south.

“A much more widespread band of rain is building around this region of southern Australia on Saturday, at the same time that the extensive band of rain is intensifying,” Hines said.

“More rain and storms, particularly for Queensland, not just for the south-east, but pushing right to the interior and the west of the state, as well as up the coast about as far north as Mackay.”

Hines warned “millions” would feel the impact over the coming days as a separate rain system moving through NSW collides with Queensland’s weather pattern on Sunday.

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“It is going to be a fairly soggy one across large parts of central and eastern Australia.

“Lots of rainfall in the forecast for the next four days,” he said.

Thursday’s flash flooding forced the emergency closure of 14 schools and inundated local shopping centres in the region.

In a daring rescue on Thursday, a man in his 70s spent more than 15 minutes trapped on the roof of his ute as floodwaters rushed around him.

SES crews threw the man a lifejacket before winching him across the fast-flowing current to safety.

In another dramatic incident, Brisbane-based journalist Will Murray and local bystander Daniel Hainey rushed to the aid of a driver trapped inside a rapidly sinking ute.

Hainey told Today that water pressure made it nearly impossible to free the driver.

“[The doors] were completely suctioned shut with water. I climbed on top and tried to open the back,” Hainey said.

“I tried to kick it, it wouldn’t break.

“Then I had to whip my shorts off to wrap around my knuckles to try and punch the window.”

“Luckily Will ‘Mad Dog’ Murray was there, and he popped the door open.

“This bloke is so lucky to be alive, I thought I was going to witness a death.”