Gold Coast residents without power for days as another severe storm bears down
Floodwaters are rapidly rising in the Gold Coast hinterland as a severe storm sweeps across the state just days after the region was battered by what was described as a mini cyclone.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued an urgent warning declaring “intense rainfall leading to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding” as a serious risk in the south-east over the next 24 hours.
“A very dangerous thunderstorm is likely to produce heavy, locally intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding was detected near South Stradbroke Island and Jacobs Well,” the bureau said.
“This thunderstorm is slow moving.”
A flood watch is in place for parts of Central Queensland, Capricornia and the South East Coast.
Floodwaters have begun to rise in the Gold Coast hinterland.
More than 380mm of rain was recorded in Upper Springbrook in the past 24 hours and 250mm of rain has been recorded in Hotham Creek, while other parts of the hinterland have neared 200mm.
Videos on social media show homes being inundated by floodwaters.
One home in Worongary had floodwaters rise above the deck and into the home.
Sandbagging stations have been set up in Pimpama and Bilinga as homes are inundated with water.
Forty-six roads have been closed after severe storms overnight and today’s flooding.
Flood warnings are in place for the Nerang and Coomera rivers.
“Rapid creek and river level rises are occurring in these catchments due to heavy rainfall,” the bureau said.
Gold Coast residents are still cleaning up from last week’s severe storm.
Around 16,000 people across the Gold Coast, Scenic Rim and Logan are still without power after a tornado ripped across the region on Christmas Day.
That number is expected to rise as the thunderstorms continue to barrel through the region.
Residents are still waiting for power with people in some places like Tamborine Mountain set to have to wait until January 5 to get their power back on.
Energex said 2700 homes had power restored overnight but with rainfall totals up to 300mm and floodwaters, workers have had to reassess their approach.
“110,000 lightning strikes in these latest storms. Lightning and working high on poles equals potential disaster and we can’t and won’t endanger our people,” Energex said.
“If anyone is wondering just how severe this summer has been, here’s one benchmark. In the last half of December 2022, south east Queensland recorded 38,000 lightning strikes. For the same period, it’s 3.5 million strikes and a lot of them took direct aim at the electricity network.”
Heavy rainfall has hit with shower and thunderstorm activity, the bureau said, as a humid easterly airflow and trough moves across the south-east coast.
The bureau said there was significant uncertainty in the movement and timing of the torrential rain, but that bad weather could persist into Tuesday morning.
Three to six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 mm and 160 mm are possible. Isolated 24-hourly totals exceeding 250 mm are also possible, but more likely about the ranges.
Police said the situation was “rapidly developing”.
More than 140 calls for help have been made to SES in the last 24 hours.
