The Gold Coast experienced a “very intense” downpour overnight with more than 300mm of rain falling in Springbrook which is currently cut off by floodwaters and landslides.
Bureau of Meteorologist (BoM) forecaster Kimba Wong said the rainfall overnight was “phenomenal” but the flood threat is not over as water levels are expected to continue rising over the coming days.
“We have seen some very heavy rainfall around the Gold Coast hinterland and border ranges in particular during the overnight period,” Wong said.
“Obviously the rainfall has now eased but the flood impacts will continue for the next couple of days.”
Flood warnings are in place for the Bremer river and Warrill Creek while the Amberley and Ipswich regions are also on alert.
Rescues after deluge hits south-east Queensland
As water inundated the Gold Coast overnight, some drivers ignored repeated warnings by emergency services not to drive through floodwaters.
One man was seen trapped in his car after being caught out by the flash flooding.
The deluge was so heavy it even left the surface of a bridge virtually shredded.
At Jacobs Well, three teenagers had to be rescued when their tinny was hit by a wave and overturned. One was taken to hospital with head injuries.
Hundreds of customers also lost power during the sudden downpour which has wreaked havoc on the state.
“It’s shocking it comes up so quick, yesterday there was literally no water in the creek at all. And then overnight it just came up the road was essentially closed off it’s done so much damage to surrounding cafes and the area,” a Coomera resident said.
‘It was just chaos’
Meanwhile, campers at Helensvale had just minutes to evacuate before flood levels rose overnight.
In the middle of the night the water started rising, fast – upending family holidays.
As of this morning, the site was completely underwater.
One witness told Today there was absolutely no warning.
“We had no idea,” he said.
“I was already awake and my sister just yelled out to me to get up. I got up and I thought, ‘it is probably not that bad’ and within 20 minute, yeah, the water was going through our tent.
“We were knee-deep within minutes. It was chaos…just panic, dozens trying to get out at once.”
NSW remains on alert despite severe warning being cancelled
Several parts of NSW recorded over 100mm of rainfall overnight, while the border town of Numinbah registered a mammoth 291mm.
NSW SES said they’ve conducted 14 flood rescues in the last 24 hours, up to 6am today.
Statewide there were 193 requests for assistance.
While the rain is set to ease today, authorities warned the flood risk would continue in the days to come.
“The system that brought the intense thunderstorms last night is just hanging off the Gold Coast right now. We could still a bit more rainfall activity in the morning,” senior Bureau forecaster, Dean Narramore, said.
“We are still expecting widespread showers across the NSW coast and south east Queensland today, and again tomorrow, before finally clearing on Sunday.
“Unfortunately, another weather event moves in to eastern Australia, mid-next week.”
Many flood warnings are in currently in place for swollen catchments across the state.
And the already devastated city of Lismore is on edge after the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued a moderate flood warning for the Tweed River.
If the levee breaks the city would face its third flood of the year.
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