Heavy rain has lashed an already soaked southeast Queensland as ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily delivers more wet weather to the state’s northwest.
Regions west of Brisbane recorded extraordinary rainfall of more than 300mm within a three-hour period early on Tuesday morning.
Homes have been flooded, entire towns cut off and dozens of schools were forced to close amid warnings up to 200mm of rain is yet to come.
‘Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is forecast for areas of southeast Queensland north of about Dalby and Redcliffe, and east of Dalby, Gayndah to Bundaberg. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 80mm to 150mm are likely,’ the BoM said.
Morayfield Shopping Centre, in Brisbane’s north, was flooded on Tuesday morning, with the centre’s lower carpark evacuated due to the rising water.
A significant number of stores in the shopping centre were forced to remain closed with staff unable to commute from areas affected by flooding.
Morayfield Shopping Centre (pictured), in Brisbane’s north, started to flood on Tuesday morning
A motorist (pictured) near Toombul Shopping Centre got caught up in the floodwaters
Several stores stores in Morayfield Shopping Centre (pictured) were forced to remain closed with staff unable to commute from areas affected by flooding
Meanwhile, the main street of Laidley, a town an hour west of Brisbane, was completely submerged.
Warnings have been issued that the rest of the region may experience flooding as water levels continue to rise.
Mayor Tanya Milligan advised residents to anticipate flooding in homes and businesses, and warned the tiny town of Forest Hill was most vulnerable.
An evacuation centre will open on Tuesday at the Laidley State High School for those seeking shelter.
In Jandowae, a small rural town in the Western Downs with a population of just over 1000, residents have been warned to relocate to higher ground.
The town is currently cut off, with no accessible roads due to the surrounding floodwaters
Firefighters rescued 13 people as floodwaters rose in the Moreton Bay, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Darling Downs regions.
Eight of those rescues were in Moreton Bay alone.
Nearby Samford Valley, 25km north-west of the Brisbane CBD, was one of the worst hit in the region, receiving 300mm of rain in three hours.
Moreton Bay resident Ash’s street was inundated by floodwater.
‘My dad woke me up in a real mad rush and he was yelling at me,’ he told media.
‘I thought, “someone’s in the house”, but no. I came outside and saw a wheelie-bin floating down the road.’
Morayfield Shopping Centre’s first-floor carpark (pictured) was reportedly evacuated due to flood water
Several stores at Morayfield Shopping Centre (pictured) were closed due to flooding
Swiftwater rescue firefighters rescued 13 people as flood waters rose across the Moreton Bay (pictured), Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Darling Downs regions overnight
Flood watches have been issued for parts of western Queensland as well as much of central and southeast of the state plus northeast NSW.
The bureau said forecast rainfall in those areas could lead to flash or riverine flooding in the next 48 hours.
‘In the worst case it could lead to inundation of homes, properties, businesses and agricultural land,’ the bureau warned.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is also ensuring more wet weather in Queensland’s northwest, days after crossing the coast.
This system should move away from the Queensland coast on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning easing the rainfall in the region.
‘We’re expecting persistent showers and storms across northern parts of the country,’ Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Sarah Scully said.
‘It’s ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirilly… that’s continuing to bring heavy rainfall and flooding to central and western parts of Queensland.
‘Kirilly is also drawing a deep layer of tropical moisture across much of Queensland and northern NSW, which is combined with this lingering trough to bring widespread showers and thunderstorms, potentially severe and heavy rainfall as well.’
South of Cloncurry has been one of the worst hit in Queensland’s northwestwith Seymour Gap receiving 256mm in 24 hours, while 244mm fell at Kirby.
A coastal trough will continue to bring heavy rain and possible flooding over southeast Queensland (pictured, rainfall forecast for Monday to Wednesday)
Laidley (pictured on Tuesday morning) may face further flooding as water levels continue to rise
Flood warnings are current for large parts of central Queensland as well as the southeast (pictured, Bray Park)
Further south at Winton, all rural roads are cut with some properties set to be isolated for six to eight weeks due to floodwaters.
West of Winton towards Boulia, the Middleton community has recorded about 450mm since the weekend.
‘The Boulia road through to Alice Springs has currently got three metres of water over the crossings,’ Winton Mayor Gavin Baskett said.
‘Some of the crossings are at the highest (flood levels) some graziers have ever seen them.’
Winton’s local disaster management group has been activated with some properties preparing for a long period isolated in floodwaters.
‘They are all graziers out there, lucky it isn’t tourist season,’ Mr Baskett said.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the ex-tropical cyclone was expected to linger between Mount Isa and Longreach for the next few days.
Crews are still working to restore electricity for north Queenslanders left without power after Kirrily crossed the coast three days ago.
About 66,000 customers lost power at the peak of the wild weather.
The remaining 1,000 homes still without electricity were expected to be restored by Tuesday night.
Kirrily struck barely a month after Tropical Cyclone Jasper caused record flooding that devastated the far north.
Queensland’s southeast has been nattered by heavy rain with some regions copping 300mm of rain in three hours (pictured, Bray Park)
Full details of flooding
List of rivers and creeks overflowing
LOWER BRISBANE:
Bremer River at Spressers Bridge is experiencing a rise, resulting in major flooding at the level of the bridge.
Western Creek at Kuss Road is rising by 0.05m but remains below the bridge.
LOGAN-ALBERT:
Logan River at Rathdowney is on the rise, causing minor flooding.
Teviot Brook at Boonah is experiencing significant flooding, measuring 1.72m above the bridge.
PINE/CABOOLTURE:
Burpengary Creek at Dale Street is rising, causing minor flooding.
Caboolture River at Hausmann Lane is rising, leading to major flooding.
North Pine River at Lees Crossing is rising, with water levels 2.08m above the road.
BORDER RIVERS:
Quart Pot Creek at Storm King Dam is holding steady with minor flooding, 0.14m above the spillway.
WEIR:
Weir River at O’Connor is rising, resulting in moderate flooding.
MOONIE:
Moonie River at Southwood is rising rapidly, causing minor flooding with water levels 3.45m above the Causeway.
Moonie River at Flinton is rising, resulting in minor flooding with water levels 2.97m above the Causeway.
CONDAMINE:
Cooranga Creek at Warra is rising, leading to major flooding, with water levels 0.15m above the bridge.
DIAMANTINA:
Diamantina River at Diamantina Lakes is rising, causing major flooding with water levels 3.91m above the Causeway.
School closures
Forest Hill State School, Thornton State School, Mount Alford State School, Grandchester State School, Ashwell State School, Aratula State School, Blenheim State School, and Centenary State High School will be closed. Additionally, major private schools such as St Paul’s School Bald Hills and Grace Lutheran College (Rothwell) have also announced closures for Tuesday.
Furthermore, Jandowae Pre-10 State School, Kogan State School, Moonie State School, Mount Sylvia State School, Mount Whitestone State School, Tent Hill Lower State School, and Warra State School have been closed. Parents are advised to contact local daycare centers and kindergartens in affected areas for closure information.
Specifically in the Lockyer Valley, Aratula State School, Ashwell State School, Blenheim State School, Centenary State School at Jindalee, Mount Sylvia State School, Mount Whitestone State School, and Tent Hill State School are closed.
In the Western Downs region, Jandowae, Moonie, Kogan, and Warra state schools are all shut.
Independent schools affected by the weather-related closures include Indie School at Logan, Carinty Education – Shalom at Condon, Mungalla Silver Lining School at Mutarnee, and Silver Lining School at Cluden.
Road closures
Old Maroochydore Road, Forest Glen – near Eudlo Ck
Morayfield Road, Morayfield – William Berry Drive
Bruce Highway on Ramp, Murrumba Downs – Dohles Rocks ramp
Beerburrum Street, Battery Hill – Beerburrum St West
Chinchilla Tara Road, Crossroads – south of Kogan Condamine Road
Cunningham Highway, Sladevale – open to one lane
Bromelton Street, Beaudesert – intersection with Beaudesert Bypass.
Beaudesert Boonah Road, Bromelton – intersection with Bromelton House Road.
Rosewood Warrill View Road, Mount Walker – intersection of Rosevale Road
Carnarvon Highway, Saint George / Wellesley – between St George and Surat
Cooper Developmental Road, Durham / Eromanga / Quilpie – various locations
Jackson Wandoan Road, Woleebee – intersection Sundown Road
Haigslea Amberley Road, Walloon – between Toohey Rd and Bell St
Rosewood Laidley Road, Calvert – near Bunney Rd
Rosewood Warrill View Road, Lower Mount Walker / Rosewood – between Ipswich Rosewood Rd and Mount Walker W Road
Ipswich Rosewood Road, Jeebropilly – between Bremer Rd and McGearys Rd
Haigslea Amberley Road, Walloon – between Hodgsons Rd and Hansens Rd
Samford Road, Ferny Hills – between Owarra Ave West and Ferny Way
Mt Samson Road, Yugar – South Pine River Bridge near Gibbons Road
Kingaroy Barkers Creek Road, Kingaroy – Tessmanns Road to Redvale Road
Samford Road, Ferny Hills – Between Owarra Ave West and Ferny Way
Quilpie Thargomindah Road, Quilpie – about 35km south of Quilpie at Bulloo River
Haigslea Amberley Road, Walloon – between Hodgsons Rd and Hansens Rd
Jackson Wandoan Road, Woleebee – Intersection Sundown Road
Bromelton Street, Beaudesert – Intersection with Beaudesert Bypass.
Ipswich Rosewood Road, Jeebropilly – between Bremer Rd and McGearys Rd
Rosewood Laidley Road, Calvert – near Bunney Rd
Haigslea Amberley Road, Walloon – between Toohey Rd and Bell St
Beaudesert Boonah Road, Bromelton – Intersection with Bromelton House Road.
Warrill View Peak Crossing Road, Warrill View – Near Charles Chauvel Drive
Rosewood Warrill View Road, Mount Walker – Intersection of Rosevale Road
Rosewood Warrill View Road, Lower Mount Walker / Rosewood – between Ipswich Rosewood Rd and Mount Walker W Road
Capricorn Highway, Comet – Sandhurst Creek
Carnarvon Highway, Saint George / Wellesley – between St George and Surat
Moonie Highway, Dalby / Nandi – between Balonne Shire and Dalby
Hughenden Muttaburra Road, Hughenden / Tangorin – Hughenden to Muttaburra
Carnarvon Highway, Mungindi / Saint George – between St George and Mungindi
Balonne Highway, Bollon / Saint George – between St George and Ballone
St George Dirranbandi Road, Hebel / Saint George – between St George and Hebel
Chinchilla Tara Road, Crossroads – south of Kogan Condamine Road
Gympie Road, Bald Hills – South Pine River Bridge
Dalby Jandowae Road, Jimbour West – about 5km south of Jandowae
Kilcoy Murgon Road, Redgate – between Bunya Highway and Burnett Highway
Dalby Kogan Road, Ranges Bridge – between Dalby and Kogan
Warrego Highway, Chinchilla / Dalby – Warrego Highway Chinchilla to Dalby
Cloncurry Duchess Road, Duchess / Kuridala – from Cloncurry Dajarra Road/Chatsworth Phosphate Hill Road intersection to Duchess township
New England Highway, Glengallan – Backwater Creek 8 Mile
Yaldara Avenue – Caboolture
Linkfield Road, Bald Hills – at South Pine River
Lower Tenthill Road, Lower Tenthill – Water Over Road – Road Closed
Condamine River Road, Killarney / The Head
Osbornes Road, Tenthill Creek Road – road closed water over road
McLucas Road, Lower Tenthill – water over road – road closed
Churchill Drive, Warwick
Victoria Street, Warwick
Grantham Winwill Road, Winwill – rater over road – road closed
Lancing Street, Pullenvale – at Pullen Pullen Creek
Alberta Park Road, Luscombe – between Stanmore Road and end of road
Harm Drive, Glenore Grove – road Closed – water over road
Mt Alford Road, Bunjurgen – at Harris Crossing
Buckingham Street East, Strathpine
Grandchester Mount Mort Road, Grandchester – at Rosewood Laidley Road
Malibu Road, Lawnton – at Todds Gully
Brightview Road, Brightview – water over road
Visentin Road, Morayfield – near Underpass Road
William Berry Drive, Morayfield – near William Berry Drive
Mott Street, Strathpine
Scott Place, Hatton Vale – water over road
Gehrke Road, Regency Downs – water over road – road closed
Woodlands Road, Blenheim – water over road – road closed
Kirri Avenue, Petrie – closed due to outflows from Sideling Creek
Bowman Parade, Bardon – 7 Bowman Parade Ithaca Creek at Bardon is flooded.
Taylors Road, Walloon
Moonie Highway, Dalby – Moonie Highway close to Moonie Schools
Burke Developmental Road, Wrotham – Walsh River (Trimble’s Crossing)
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