The Brisbane River peaked at 3.85 metres early on Monday, at the high tide but whilst that peak is now easing, further dangerous peaks are expected in the coming 24 hours.

A secondary Brisbane River peak is forecast for about 8pm on Monday evening, where it is expected to reach 3.3 metres followed by another peak again on Tuesday morning, of about 3.7 metres.

These are below the 4.46m peak reached during the devastating 2011 floods.

Queensland Police confirmed that a man, believed to be in his 50s, died after his car was washed away in floodwaters in the Currumbin Valley early on Monday morning.

About 3am, a vehicle is believed to have been driven 30-40 metres into floodwaters but police had been unable to locate it.

About 10.45am on Monday a Surf Lifesaving rescue boat found the car submerged. A man and a dog were found deceased inside.

It comes as the Bureau of Meterology warns that whilst the intense rain has eased for now, further thunderstorms are expected to develop from Wednesday.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk addressed the media after the disaster management committee met early Monday.

Palaszczuk said up to 15,000 Brisbane homes had been impacted by the event and 3600 in Gympie. More than 1500 people are now sheltering in evacuation centres and 113 swift water rescues conducted in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Beenleigh.

Palaszczuk described is as a fast and furious downpour affecting all council regions of the State’s south east.

The Premier faced sustained questioning about whether the warnings were issued early enough and when the Government first became aware of the potential for tragedy.

“We didn’t know that this was going to happen. This is mother nature … it is absolutely heartbreaking but it is mother nature,” Palaszczuk said.

And she said the situation had changed and evolved rapidly from Tuesday onwards with an unpredictable rain bomb sitting over the entirety of south east Queensland.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll confirmed a seventh death overnight – a 59-year-old male swept up in floodwater in Taigum.

And she said there were reports of a vehicle swept away by floodwaters at Yatala. A man reported missing after he was seen entering floodwaters at Goodna to retrieve animals has been found safe and well.

Another male was also missing near Esk and reports of a man falling from a vessel in the Brisbane River.

Authorities have now begun controlled releases of water from the swollen Wivenhoe Dam, which on Monday morning was sitting at 185 per cent of capacity.

The 59-year-old Carseldine man died at Fitzgibbon, north of Brisbane, on Sunday afternoon, Queensland Police said on Monday.

He was trying to cross Cabbage Tree Creek on foot when he was swept away.

Two witnesses raised the alarm and went to his aid but despite their best efforts and those of attending paramedics he died at the scene.

Almost one thousand schools will be closed in 13 local government areas across the southeast on Monday, and residents from Gympie to the Gold Coast are warned to avoid all non-essential travel.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Greg Leach said authorities were dealing with a number of rescues on Monday morning, including a car that was washed into a river at Yatala.

There are also unconfirmed reports of looting in the Ipswich area and Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said officers are investigating.

State Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said roads have been closed and public transport services cut across the southeast.

“We’ve had to close parts of the Gateway Motorway, Ipswich Motorway, Bruce Highway, and dozens of major roads across southeast Queensland,” Mr Bailey said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was due to give a speech in Brisbane on Monday to the Queensland Media Club but the event has been postponed due to extensive flooding across the city.

More than 1400 homes along the river are expected to be inundated, with more heavy rain forecast and predictions the river could peak around four metres on Monday morning.

This would be near the peak seen in the 2011 floods when the river hit 4.5 metres.

Brisbane City Council issued a warning to ask residents in high risk zones along the river to consider evacuating, including in Brisbane City, Newstead, West End, New Farm, Milton, St Lucia, Bulimba, South Brisbane, Toowong and Rocklea.

Flooding was widespread on Sunday, impacting Gympie, Maryborough, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich and Brisbane, while major flood warnings were in place for the Mary River, Mooloolah, Noosa and Maroochy rivers, Upper Brisbane and Stanley rivers, Laidley, Lockyer and Warrill creeks, as well as the Bremer and Logan rivers.

Amid the crisis, water was being released from Brisbane’s Wivenhoe Dam, which was over capacity. The Moogerah Dam, inland from the Gold Coast, was also spilling, as was the Atkinson Dam.

Gold Coast residents from Tallebudgera to Currumbin have been issued a watch and act warning of “intense” rainfall and flood risk.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged Queenslanders to stay indoors, warning of life-threatening flash flooding, landslides and debris on roads from the weather.

“This is an extraordinary weather event and it should be treated very seriously,” she said.

After smashing the southeast, the severe weather was forecast to move south to the Gold Coast, and then cross the border into NSW’s northern rivers district.

Meanwhile, the search continues for a sole sailor, aged in his 70s, who fell overboard from his vessel near the mouth of Breakfast Creek about on Saturday.

The federal government has announced disaster assistance has been extended to councils in the Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett and Southern Downs areas.

It has also made available, in partnership with the state government, one-off disaster recovery payments worth $1000 and other allowances for people who can’t get to work.