A tropical low has brought torrential rain to north Queensland, with more than 340mm falling in six hours in some areas amid widespread falls of up to 100mm.
Floodwaters trapped two people in their car in the Whitsundays, prompting a rescue operation south of Airlie Beach on the Bruce Highway about 7.30pm on Friday.
Heavy rains have soaked a number of locations between Cairns and Mackay with 346mm landing in Toolakea, and surrounding areas enduring more than 200mm in six hours.
The deluge triggered a string of flood warnings, including in Townsville, where residents near the Bohle River and Bluewater Creek were told to prepare to leave on Friday night.
By 1pm on Saturday, authorities cancelled an emergency Watch and Act alert.
Holidaymakers have been urged to re-think their travel plans or expect delays as a result of road closures, with floodwaters cutting off the Bruce Highway at Lethebrook and Bowen in the Whitsunday region as well as Pindi Pindi near Mackay.
The bleak weather continued on Saturday as the tropical low made its way across the tropical coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding, particularly for coastal regions, with storms possible across parts of northern and western Queensland.
Severe storms with heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding north of Mackay and damaging wind gusts in excess of 90km/hour were predicted in the state's far southwest.
⛈️Storms broadly possible across parts of — Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) #northern, #western Queensland today.SEVERE storms with HEAVY RAINFALL that may lead to FLASH FLOODING possible over #northern QLD, north of about #Mackay.SEVERE storms with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS (> 90 km/h) possible in far #southwest. pic.twitter.com/DajHKpfGdQDecember 21, 2024
A severe weather warning for heavy to locally intense rainfall between Ingham to north of Mackay, pushing inland to Charters Towers, is currently in place.
The bureau warned intense showers could lead to "dangerous and life-threatening" flash flooding near the low's centre in the Herbert and Lower Burdekin region, producing six-hourly totals of up to 320mm.
Flood warnings have also been issued for the Herbert River with elevated river levels upstream to Gleneagle, the Haughton River catchment, the Burnett River catchment, Major Creek and renewed rises likely at Giru.
By Saturday afternoon, river and creek levels began to fall across the catchment, however remain elevated.
"We're seeing a lot of flash flooding in these areas already with many roads and highways already cut," the bureau's Miriam Bradbury said.
"We urge communities in these areas to stay in touch with your local emergency services, do not drive into floodwaters, keep yourself as safe as possible."
Heavy rain is set to ease this weekend as the tropical low gradually starts to move away from the coast into the Coral Sea.
"We're still expecting scattered showers and possible storms across northern Queensland through the later part of the weekend," Ms Bradbury said.
"But the most intense rainfall should start to ease back through Saturday afternoon."
Mostly sunny and hot for west and south, partly cloudy elsewhere.— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) Showers, storms with rain areas about tropical east coast north of #Mackay, parts of #FarNorth. Heavy falls about #Mackay and #MountIsa, north to #Weipa.Severe storms possible with damaging wind gusts for far SW. pic.twitter.com/QKZzZ8YeaCDecember 20, 2024
Whitsunday Mayor Ry Collins had raised concerns about the weather's impact on festive tourism after heavy rain saturated his region, cutting off the Bruce Highway.
"It'll obviously have an effect on people coming and going," he told AAP.
"I think looking forward at the weather ... looks like we've got more rain coming but starting to clear up then (later on the weekend)."
More than 600 customers across the state are still without power largely due to storm activity.
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