Rising floodwaters have cut north Queensland's main transport corridor, trapping dozens of travellers and isolating communities with more rain on the way.
The Bruce Highway is closed in multiple locations in the state's north, with motorists stranded as floodwaters continue to rise.
Up to 100 people are trapped in the town of Bloomsbury, north of Mackay, as they wait for floodwaters to recede.
Acting premier Steven Miles said there had been some reprieve with patchy rain lower than expected overnight but warned residents to maintain caution.
"We continue to see significant road closures throughout the entire region," Mr Miles said,
"Creeks and rivers are rising and falling very rapidly."
With the Bruce Highway cut, Mr Miles said the priority would be ensuring locals had adequate access to supplies, with some areas expected to be isolated for up to a week.
"Our concern at this stage is resupply for those communities who are now isolated," he said.
"Those communities may be isolated for days or even up to a week."
The Mackay Regional Council has closed more than 40 local roads as the dangerous weather system continues to impact the region.
Warnings have been issued for more than a dozen river systems and catchment areas across north Queensland.
Major flood warnings are in place for the Pioneer, Don and Georgina rivers, and for Eyre Creek.
Mackay residents have been warned to avoid parking in parts of the CBD, but floodwaters are not expected to breach the Pioneer River's banks at Mirani.
"If heavy rainfall in the Mackay urban area coincides with the high tide the water will take some time to drain away," the Mackay council warned.
"Areas impacted will include farmland and some other low-lying areas, but no inundation of homes is expected."
Heavy rainfall is expected to continue on Tuesday as the weather bureau warned of flash flooding over the Central Coast and Whitsundays, with the system expected to shift offshore to the north late in the day.
Six-hourly rainfall totals between 100 to 180 millimetres are likely with isolated 24-hourly totals up to 300mm.
Over the southeastern Herbert and Lower Burdekin and far northeastern Central Highlands and Coalfields districts, six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 to 120mm are possible.
Six-hourly rainfall totals between 200 to 250mm are possible, particularly about the coast and ranges north of about Mackay to Nebo.
It follows days of wet weather with 24-hour falls of 392mm recorded at Jubilee Pocket, 372mm at Peter Faust Dam, 317mm at Proserpine Airport and 313mm at Preston and Bowen
Rain and thunderstorms will continue until Wednesday around the central coast of Queensland, while showers and thunderstorms will continue across much of northern Australia and inland Queensland.
