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‘It won’t stop bloody raining’: One dead as dangerous flash flooding hits SEQ yet again

Southeast Queensland is again bracing for severe wet weather, with one man swept to his death in floodwaters near Toowoomba as a slow-moving and potentially dangerous system moves across the state.

Mar 28, 2022, updated Mar 28, 2022
South-east Queensland is again bracing for possible flooding. (AAP Image/Jono Searle)

South-east Queensland is again bracing for possible flooding. (AAP Image/Jono Searle)

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning for more heavy rainfall and potentially life-threatening flash floods from Noosa down to the NSW border.

Police said the man died at Brimblecombe Rd, Kingsthorpe, when his ute was caught in floodwaters. A woman who was also in the vehicle was rescued but the man was found dead in the ute. Several dogs also died.

A dump of rain totalling 160mm in some places overnight has sparked several swift water rescues across the region.

Western Downs Regional Council on Monday issued an emergency alert for flooding along Myall Creek, saying Dalby is expected to experience minor flooding.

“Properties in low lying areas should warn neighbours, secure property and belongings, and prepare to move to higher ground,” Queenland Fire and Emergency Services said in a statement.

The coastal trough over southeast Queensland is expected to deepen throughout Monday and into Tuesday.

Rainfall totals up to 250mm are possible, although conditions could be patchy over over coastal areas with rainfall totals of 50mm-100mm in some areas.

“Intense rainfall leading to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is possible with thunderstorms with six-hourly rainfall totals up to 250mm,” the bureau warned.

A major flood warning is in place for Myall Creek along with a moderate warning for the Bokhara River and a minor warning for the Condamine River.

“Further thunderstorms and showers are likely during Monday, which may cause renewed river level rises and possible flooding in the Condamine and Balonne River catchments,” the bureau said on Monday.

Seqwater late on Sunday warned of possible flood releases from the Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dams in the next 48 hours due to the forecast rainfall.

The authority warned people downstream of the dams to avoid deep and fast-flowing water near floodplains and waterways.

The bad weather comes as communities continue to clean-up after the deadly foods triggered last month by the state’s wettest February in 130 years.

Weeks after the deluge, the Brisbane River has reopened to recreational boating after some 2000 tonnes of debris were removed from the river.

Citycat ferry services remain suspended and are not expected to resume until April, according to Brisbane City Council.

A severe weather warning for the already flood-ravaged northern region of NSW has been issued by forecasters, as communities continue in their massive clean-up.

The bureau warned heavy rainfall that may lead to flash-flooding in parts of northeast NSW later on Monday and into early Tuesday.

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Six-hourly rainfall totals of between 80mm and 140mm were possible, with locally intense falls leading to dangerous and life-threatening flash floods and totals of more than 180mm in six hours, the BOM said on Monday morning.

The forecast zone includes Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Byron Bay, Lismore, Yamba, Grafton, Coffs Harbour and Dorrigo.

The warning of more heavy falls comes as the Northern Rivers community continues cleaning up after floods damaged and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in the region earlier this month.

“It won’t bloody stop raining up here,” Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg told the Nine Network on Monday.

“The forecast doesn’t look good … the next two days is critical for how Lismore is going to fare over the next week.

“This is a major development, this weather front. If our river rises, we’re going to start the evacuations today just to be cautious.

“But there’s a lot of infrastructure that’s been temporarily put in place that we’re going to have to pack up and move out of the CBD area.”

The public school in the riverside town of Woodburn is expected to reopen on Monday, and a number of businesses in the Northern Rivers were planning to recommence trading.

“All these people are living on the edge at the moment,” the mayor said.

A separate, severe thunderstorm warning may be issued on Monday if dangerous storms producing intense rainfall are detected.

 

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