East coast rain dump floods roads west of Brisbane

Two major Queensland dams will start releasing water after heavy rainfall bombarded the southeast over the week.

An Emergency Alert Watch and Act was issued for Jandowae Creek, 130km northwest of Toowoomba, about 7.45am on Thursday, as persistent rainfall has fallen in the region since Tuesday.

The Western Down Regional Council had advised police the Jandowae Dam spillway exceeded the moderate flood level of 0.5m on Thursday morning and flooding is occurring in the area.

“Residents are urged to Prepare Now,” Queensland Police said in a statement.

It comes as Seqwater opted to begin flood releases from Somerset Dam and Wivenhoe Dam due to persistent rainfall in upper catchments and potential for ongoing rainfall.

Flood releases from Somerset Dam and Wivenhoe Dam began from midday, and will occur over a six hour period to 6pm.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting showers and thunderstorms today and showers in coming days.

Meanwhile, North Pine Dam is not expected to undergo a flood release at this state.

“However, operational releases will continue from the dam’s cone valve,” Seqwater said in a statement

Seqwater warned a number of ungated dams continue to spill as a result of recent rainfall in the dam catchments across South East Queensland:

• Baroon Pocket Dam
• Borumba Dam
• Cedar Pocket Dam
• Enoggera Dam
• Ewen Maddock Dam
• Gold Creek Dam
• Hinze Dam
• Little Nerang Dam
• Maroon Dam
• Moogerah Dam
• Sideling Creek Dam
• Wappa Dam
• Wyaralong Dam

It comes as roads and bridges in southeast Queensland remain underwater as flooding hits the South Burnett region.

The local disaster management group has downgraded the threat as of 8am Thursday.

“The imminent threat has passed,” information from the management group reads.

However, 44 roads have been cut off. Local social media groups have been sharing detour information on Thursday morning.

The council issued a watch and act warning on Wednesday night after heavy rains on December 30.

“Council advises flash flooding is occurring in the area, and urges residents to watch and act,” Queensland Police said in a statement on Wednesday night.

Residents of the area report the Boyne River is still rising and sits above all depth signs.

Information from the Bureau of Meteorology shows multiple creeks in the region surpassed “major” flood levels, though most have fallen slightly since 12am Thursday. The Boyne River, at Cooranga, spiked from a water level of 2 metres to almost 7 metres in the past 48 hours.

Night-time images show a section of the single-lane Mount McEuen Rd has been washed away by floodwaters.

“And that’s why people should never drive in flood water,” one person commented.

Queensland isn’t the only state under siege, with thousands of east coast Australians bracing for heavy rain and thunderstorms over the coming days, while some southern states are tipped to swelter through temperatures in the mid-30s.

Residents across the majority of Australia rang in the New Year with warm weather though many parts of the country took a battering with heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

There’s no end in sight for the wild and wet weather – which is also expected to hit large parts of NSW in the coming days. Forecasted showers and thunderstorms will potentially become severe in the afternoon and evening, cutting through the hot and humid conditions.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said while NSW has experienced humid conditions in recent days, severe storms could impact the northeastern regions of the state, including the northern ranges, slopes and Northwest Plains.

“Damaging wind gusts and large hail are also possible with severe storms, but heavy rain is the greatest risk,” she said.

The remainder of inland NSW is expected to stay dry and humid for the rest of the week, with rain forecast to remain in the eastern regions.

While it was a hot start to the year for inland Queensland, thunderstorms are also anticipated across the northern pockets of the state on Thursday, with severe storms forecast for Cairns, Townsville and Mackay.

The storms and showers are expected to stick around for several days, dragging down to the east coast of Victoria with humid and unstable air masses.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for people in parts of Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central West, Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett and Darling Downs and Granite Belt forecast district.

“An inland trough and embedded low are combining with unstable air to produce large areas of thunderstorm activity during the evening,” the bureau’s warning, issued on Wednesday evening, states.

“Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours.

“Locations which may be affected include Biloela, Monto, Aramac, Aberfoyle, Alpha and Mount Morgan.”

57mm of rain was recorded at Folding Hills in an hour, while another 50mm fell at Augathella.

For Victorians, it was a mild start to the year as a high pressure system kept the storms and heat away.

However, as a high pressure system moves upwards in the south, the eastern regions of Victoria, including parts of Gippsland, can expect to see heavy rainfall.

While conditions are mild in Victoria at the start of the week, temperatures are anticipated to rise by the weekend, with the state’s capital reaching a top of 34C on Saturday.

Bringing in the New Year, Western Australia reporting warmer conditions than usual as hot and unstable air masses bring showers to southwest and northwest WA.

The northern regions of the state were battered by showers and storms, which are set to continue for the rest of the week before extending out to the northern interior.

Looking at Thursday’s forecast, it will be a cloudy and hot day in Brisbane, with a medium chance of showers and a chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and a maximum temperature of 27C.

Residents in Sydney can expect cloudy skies and mild temperatures, with a slight chance of showers, light winds and a top of 24C.

Things will be equally mild in Melbourne for Thursday, with a maximum temperature of 21C and partly cloudy skies.

Adelaide will be mostly sunny with south-easterly winds and a top of 29C.

It will be a sunny morning for residents in Perth, with the chance of a thunderstorm in the northeast in the afternoon and a top of 30C.

Hobart will be cool and cloudy, with light winds in the late evening and a top of 20C.

Conditions will also be cloudy in Canberra, with a top temperature of 25C.

Darwin will see a medium chance of showers and thunderstorm in the late morning and a top of 35C.