Warnings lift for south-east Queensland but more wild weather on the way
Weather warnings have been lifted in parts of Queensland after a 24-hour battering caused flash flooding and closed roads.
Some areas had more than 100 millimetres of rain, mostly around the Sunshine Coast.
Drivers were told to heed warnings of not driving on flooded roads, but some even removed barriers to get through, without replacing them.
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Weather warnings have been lifted for parts of Queensland after a 24-hour battering which caused flash flooding and closed roads. Nine
There were multiple flood rescues as rural roads went under right across the state's south-east, swallowed by swollen catchments near Biggenden and in Tairo.
Queensland police warned they would impose penalties on drivers who continue to shun warnings.
"For those people that ignore road closed signs that are driving into flooded areas, what we will be doing is issuing infringement notices to those people," acting Chief Superintendent Christopher Stream said.
In Newmarket Brisbane 20,000 sandbags were handed out to residents, but have so far not been needed. Nine
Weather warnings have been lifted for parts of Queensland after a 24-hour battering which caused flash flooding and closed roads.Some areas had more than 100mm of rain, mostly around the Sunshine Coast. Nine
Some locals in Currumbin, on the Gold Coast, also ignored warnings and waded into ferocious flood waters.
Beaches will remain closed with five-metre swells.
In the Brisbane suburb of Newmarket, 20,000 sandbags were handed out to residents, but were yet to be needed.
Drivers were told to heed warnings of not driving on flooded roads, but some even removed barriers to get through - and then didn't replace them. Nine
Residents in Goondiwindi, on the NSW border were still anxiously watching the MacIntyre River, which is set to peak tomorrow at 10 metres.
Police and Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan warned rain would hang around.
"This is the beginning of an intense heavy weather system," he said.
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Residents should plan ahead for the extreme weather conditions forecast to last through the summer months, he warned.
Ryan said there had been "proactive" releases at a number of dams across south-east Queensland.
"The dams are operating as intended, they are holding up," he said.
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Ryan said dam releases had totalled 400 cubic metres of water compared with the 3000 cubic metres released during storms earlier this year.
Queensland authorities said there had been 167 requests for help, including a water rescue, so far this weekend.
Beaches will remain closed with 5m swells in Queensland. Nine
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Residents can find the latest emergency alerts through the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and weather warnings are on the Bureau of Meteorology website.
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