Queensland faces more rain after heavy week

Queensland faces another round of heavy rain this weekend.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued warnings for severe thunderstorms and flash flooding in four states. The alerts cover South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. Nine specific flood warnings remain active in southern Queensland. Senior meteorologist David Crock noted that the wet conditions are unusual for October. He described the weather pattern as resembling summer months like January or February.

Rain totals in some Queensland areas have reached 450mm over the past week. The Sunshine Coast hinterlands and Caboolture recorded seven-day totals between 300mm and 400mm. This accumulation has led to persistent flooding. The Queensland fire department conducted more than 16 swift-water rescues during the downpour. One rescue involved crews using a raft to save an elderly man clinging to his car roof in Caboolture.

The State Emergency Service received hundreds of calls for help. Heavy rain forced several schools to close on Friday. The heaviest rainfall occurred on Thursday. Torrential rain stretched from Caboolture south to the Border Ranges. Some locations in that path received well over 200mm of water in a short period.

A cold front will cross New South Wales on Sunday. This system will bring severe thunderstorms to the west of the state and north-eastern Victoria. Sydney and Brisbane are also in the path of the storm. Crock expects the threat of thunderstorms to extend across eastern Australia. The forecast includes severe storms for a wide area of inland eastern Australia. Parts of Melbourne's eastern suburbs and central South Australia may also experience severe weather. Tasmania is expected to see heavy rain develop overnight into Sunday morning.