Flooding and severe weather warnings have been issued after torrential rain falls over large parts of south-east Queensland. See how the day unfolded. in our live blog.
Key events
Live updates
By Heidi Davoren
Where to find emergency assistance and information
- For emergency assistance, contact SES QLD on 132 500.
- If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
- Roads and bridges may be impacted by flash flooding. You can find more information here
- For the latest weather updates visit the Bureau of Meteorology
- Other emergency updates can be found at Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
- If you're not sure what to do when there's a flood, here's the best way to plan
Listen to ABC Local Radio for regular updates:
- ABC Wide Bay on 100.1fm + 855am or stream online
- ABC Brisbane on 612am or online
- ABC Sunshine Coast on 90.3FM Nambour and Gympie 95.3FM or the live stream
By Daniel Colasimone
Our coverage continues tomorrow
That's it for today. Check back in with us in the morning for the latest news on the ongoing weather situation in south-east Queensland.
By Daniel Colasimone
Current major and moderate flood warnings
- Major Flood Warning for Laidley, Lockyer and Warrill Creeks and Bremer River, Minor Flood Warning for lower Brisbane River
- Major Flood Warning for the Eyre Creek and Moderate Flood Warning for the Georgina River
- Major Flood Warning for the Logan River and Minor Flood Warning for the Albert River
- Major Flood Warning for the Mary River
- Major Flood Warning for the Upper Brisbane River
- Moderate Flood Warning for the Charleys Creek, and Minor Flood Warning for the Condamine River and Myall Creek
- Moderate Flood Warning for the lower Burnett River, Minor Flood Warning for the Stuart and Boyne Rivers and Flood Warning for the Auburn River
- Moderate Flood Warning for the Moonie River
- Moderate Flood Warning for the Noosa, Maroochy and Mooloolah rivers and Flood Warning for the Coochin Creek
- Moderate Flood Warning for the Paroo River (QLD)
By Daniel Colasimone
Torrential rain in the east to continue over the weekend
The Mary River is already at major flood levels and Gympie is expected to reach that status by this evening.
(Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology)
By Daniel Colasimone
By Daniel Colasimone
Scenic Rim residents, tourists stranded as wild weather washes away causeway
Up to 200 people could be stranded in the Scenic Rim, after a causeway washed away. Heavy falls have damaged roads and localised landslips are being inspected.
By Matthew Eaton
Five people and dog airlifted from Gympie
The Sunshine Coast LifeFlight Rescue chopper has rescued five people and their dog from a property that became surrounded by floodwaters in the Gympie region.
The family drove to a safe location up a hill near the house, while they waited for help to arrive.
They told rescuers they had only recently moved to the property.
The pilot landed the chopper on the road in front of the house and the family drove back down the hill to meet them.
The family of five were helped into the helicopter — all are safe and well.
A pet fox terrier was secured in a child rescue capsule for the flight.
By Matthew Eaton
More rain to come
Heavy rain will continue across south-east Queensland from Hervey Bay to the Gold Coast until tomorrow, says BOM meteorologist David Grant.
"Since many catchments and are saturated, there is a high risk of dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding," he said.
"We have a major flood warning now current for the Mary River, with Gympie expected to exceed the major flood level and exceed levels that have not been seen since February of 1999.
An Emergency Alert has been issued from the Gympie Regional Council as the river continues to rise, with Normanby Bridge and Pengellys Bridge now closed, shutting off the southern approach to the town.
"A major flood warning is also current for the Logan River, with Beaudesert expected to exceed the major flood levels sometime during the course of Saturday," Mr Grant said.
Major flooding warnings are also in place for the Murray River, as well as Laidley and Lockyer creeks.
By Matthew Eaton
Grantham residents stuck on roofs
Six people are sheltering on the roofs of houses amid heavy flooding at Grantham in the Lockyer Valley, according to Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski.
At a media conference a short time ago, Deputy Commissioner Gollschewski said a rescue helicopter had been dispatched in the hope it can retrieve them, though the weather is making that tricky.
"We're not certain it will be able to fly into that area. We are also looking at other options to get other aerial assets in there to assist these people," he said.
"We are also looking at other options to get other aerial assets in there to assist these people.
"We do have resources, including QFES resources on the ground, and we will advise as that unfolds."
By Matthew Eaton
Flash flooding alert north-west of Brisbane
An Emergency Alert has been issued from Somerset Regional Council.
Residents are advised that flash flooding is occurring in the area.
Roads and bridges are being impacted and residents are urged to stay up to date with the latest information from the Bureau of Meteorology.
By Matthew Eaton
Bridge over Mary River closed
Spare a thought for Maryborough residents who are downstream from Gympie and bracing for their second flood of the year after the deluge early last month.
In an update at 2pm, Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour warned there'll be a minor flood peak in Maryborough tonight ahead of a second peak in a few more days as the torrent flows from Gympie.
"There's a wide range of predictions from a minor to a major flood coming from the Bureau of Meteorology because of the unpredictability of the amount of rain that we're having right now.
"But we've had over 300 millimetres in the past 24 hours across much of the catchment and much more is anticipated so we need to be aware and prepared for any of the eventualities which include a major flood," Mr Seymour said.
Lamington Bridge over the Mary River at Ferry Street was closed at 2pm and authorities will close the Granville Bridge if the river level hits 5.5 metres.
The council says Granville residents need to be prepared to be cut off from Maryborough "for potentially several days".
By Matthew Eaton
'It may intensify'
Deputy Premier Steven Miles says the severe weather hitting south-east Queensland is looking worse than what emergency services predicted this morning.
"Indications currently are that the rain over the next 24 hours could be even worse that was expected this morning," Mr Miles said.
"It may intensify and go for longer into tomorrow. What we know is that these catchments are already saturated so particularly place like Gympie and Maryborough that flooded not that long ago, the Mary River is rising very quickly.
"Here in the south-east where we’ve had a lot of rain over the summer we should expect if this rain does intensify that could lead to more localised flooding."
By Matthew Eaton
Mary River emergency still unfolding
Here's how things stand right now in Gympie — residents have been told to expect a record flood peak as the Mary River continues rises quickly, swamping roads.
In an update issued at 2pm, Gympie Regional Council said Normanby Bridge (Mary Valley Road) and Pengelly's Bridge (Brisbane Road) would close within the next hour and people would no longer be able to travel south.
The Bruce Highway is already closed at Inglewood Bridge, which crosses Deep Creek.
By Matthew Eaton
Rivers are rising
Senior BOM meteorologist Laura Boekel says it's a 'watch and wait situation' for flooding in the Brisbane River.
"We really do need to see what happens for the rest of today and overnight tonight to see where the peaks will be along the Brisbane River and exactly how affected Brisbane City will be," she said.
Ms Boekel said the BOM is keeping a close eye on the intense rainfall that is following downstream to the Brisbane River.
"[We are watching] how the rivers respond to that noting that we have seen rainfall today and likely to see there's really low-lying areas start to see more inundation as we see the rain continuing throughout today and tomorrow," she said.
Mary River flood
"It is becoming more likely that we will see major flooding in Gympie as well.
"We have the downstream effects of that flooding in Gympie, so what happens at Tiaro and Maryborough will also play out in the coming days but we are expecting to see flood peaks in those townships as well.
"We are not going to see reprieve for this event until at least tomorrow evening.
"The next 24 hours we will continue to see that rainfall, from the Gold Coast all the way up to just south of Bundaberg."
Ms Boekel warns the situation is still evolving and to be wary of flash flooding from intense pockets of rain.
By Matthew Eaton
Grantham rail bridge
Floodwaters are rising rapidly in Grantham in the Lockyer Valley, west of Brisbane.
In the past few hours, flooding has risen almost to the top of the Grantham rail bridge.
This is the same bridge that was a focal point of the flood devastation in the town in 2011.
By Heidi Davoren
By Heidi Davoren
Residents told to evacuate
The occupants of about 20 homes at Withcott, Helidon and Grantham in the Lockyer Valley have been asked to evacuate as floodwaters rise.
Lockyer Valley Mayor Tanya Milligan said emergency services were preparing for the possibility that up to another 200 millimetres of rain could fall in the next 24 hours.
She said people in flood-affected areas of the Lockyer Valley who could safely leave their homes should do so.
"We've been really fortunate that there's been no requests from the community for evac centres, which tells me that people are actually going to family and friends," she said.
"Most of the schools have already sent their children home.
"We certainly encourage people to go to friends and family and if there isn't friends and family, then council will take it from there."
By Matthew Eaton
Escape from flooded house turns life-threatening
Three people have been rescued from rising floodwaters at Helidon in the Lockyer Valley.
Swiftwater rescue teams were called to Helidon Dip Road just after midday where the group's car was caught in fast-rising water.
Two people were found clinging to the roof of the car, while the third person was found nearby in the water.
A fourth person made it to safety on their own.
ABC Toowoomba reporters caught up with Helidon residents Jean and Lloyd Warr, who were among the people rescued.
They were trapped in floodwaters in their car after their house became inundated with almost a metre of water.
Ms Warr said they had left home to search for safer ground.
"We thought … we can go to the cemetery, because the Catholic cemetery didn't go under [in the 2011 floods]," she said.
"We thought we'd save ourselves … we didn't make it. We climbed out and sat on the top on the car."
The couple waited for about half an hour before being rescued by emergency service workers, to whom they are extremely grateful.
"Can't thank them enough. We didn't want to put them through it," Ms Warr said.
"But we're alive."
