Widespread flooding expected for parts of Queensland
Parts of Queensland have been placed on high alert for severe weather and widespread flooding.
The Bureau of Meteorology this afternoon warned "moderate to major (flooding) is likely" in the state's north and west, triggered by predictions of record-breaking rain.
The worst of the wet weather event is expected to hit Tuesday night and impact areas from Townsville in North Queensland, south to the Wide Bay region.
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A major weather event is set to hit Queensland. 9News
Areas in the central west such as Longreach and Barcaldine, already wet from the Anzac Day long weekend weather event, are also in the firing line.
A severe weather warning has been issued for Longreach, with heavy rain expected to begin tonight, before moving eastward late tomorrow afternoon.
"Heavy rainfall is expected to develop this evening throughout the Central and Northern interior," the bureau said.
"Significant flooding is likely."
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warned residents to prepare for the rain and follow safety warnings.
"Towns such as Longreach could experience five to 10 times their normal May rainfall," Palaszczuk said.
Bureau meteorologist Jackson Browne said predictions were "conservative" and highly unusual for the outback region.
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Meteorologist Jackson Brown said inland Queensland is one of the main 'threat areas'. Today
"The responsible character is a large high-pressure system in the Tasman Sea," he said.
"And that's drawing a huge north-easterly fetch of moisture down from the Solomon Islands."
Browne said the system would shift toward the coast tomorrow.
Up to 400mm of rain could fall on parts of the coast in just 48 hours, with the SES preparing for emergency situations.
The state's south-east is not set to see as much rain, but a severe wind warning is in place for the region.
The Sunshine Coast is also bracing for a thunderstorm and up to 90mm of rain.
Cyclone forming off Western Australia
Western Australia is also preparing for a deluge.
Weatherzone says a late season tropical cyclone has formed over the Indian Ocean, which will see rain fall over WA later this week.
Cyclone Karim strengthened to a category two system last night.
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The sun rises over Tropical Cyclone Karim on Monday morning. Weatherzone
Forecast accumulated rain between Monday and Friday this week, according to the ECMWF-HRES model. Weatherzone
Despite it being the cyclone off-season, modelling shows parts of the state could receive 30mm of rain.
"Australia's tropical cyclone season officially ended more than a week ago on April 30," Weatherzone explained.
"However, unusually warm water over the eastern Indian Ocean has helped spawn an out-of-season tropical cyclone.
"Showers will start to increase over the west coast of WA from late Wednesday, before rain becomes heavier and more widespread on Thursday into Friday."
The low pressure system is not expected to make landfall.
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