Flash-flooding alert for Brisbane

TORRENTIAL rain is drenching southeast Queensland, with up to 200mm expected to fall in the next 24 hours.

At 5.50pm, Brisbane residents were again warned of the possibility of flash flooding for the rest of today and Tuesday.

A text alert from the Brisbane City Council warned "All of Brisbane at risk".

The weather bureau says widespread falls of 100mm in the southeast are likely with even higher totals forecast in some areas through Tuesday.

In Bundaberg, which is still recovering from devastating floods in the wake of cyclone Oswald, falls of up to 200mm are possible on Tuesday with the rain likely to last until Wednesday.

Flash flooding alerts have been issued for a number of areas including Gladstone, Gympie, Kingaroy, Hervey Bay and Fraser Island. Flooding is also possible on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts as well as Brisbane and Ipswich.

The town of Gympie is expecting a minor flood peak of six metres on Monday night.

Big swells have closed beaches, carving out three metre sand cliffs on Surfers Paradise Beach. Stairs and walkways have also been ripped out of the dunes.

A bus load of students was rescued from flooded roads at Acacia Ridge. Pic: Ch 7

A newborn baby was flown to Gold Coast Hospital after his mother gave birth as flood waters rose rapidly in northern NSW.

The 37-year-old woman gave birth to the boy about 4.40am (AEST) on Monday before emergency crews could reach her property at Palmvale, near the NSW-Queensland border.

SES and swiftwater rescue crews eventually reached her by boat but a rescue chopper from Queensland was called amid fears floodwaters would keep rising.

"They are both doing well and travelled in a stable condition," CareFlight paramedic Clint Peters said in a statement.

The baby boy was named Sabre.

At 3.21pm, it was reported that a total of 22 southeast Queensland dams are spilling, roads are cut and big seas and strong winds are battering the coast.

South-East Queensland is again bracing for flash flooding as another weather system batters the state's coast.

Premier Campbell Newman has also announced that a recovery plan has been put in place to ensure repairs from ex-Cyclone Oswald are made quickly.

"The 2013 Flood Recovery Plan will outline the role of disaster recovery coordinators, ensuring that people who have been devastated by flooding will see real changes in their communities as quickly as possible," Mr Newman said.

"The plan forms five major recovery groups to lead the social, economic and environmental aspects of the recovery, as well as plotting the course for building and roads projects."

Steady rain in Brisbane caused traffic chaos and pockets of minor flooding at Stable Swamp Creek at Marshall Rd, Burpengary Creek at Rowley Rd, Coochin Creek at Old Gympie Rd, South Maroochy River at Yandina and Elliot River at Dr Mays Crossing in Wide Bay.

Brisbane has had 133.2mm of rain so far this February. It's average February rainfall is 158.3mm

At 11.40am it was reported that swift-water rescue crews winched 16 school children to safety after their bus became trapped by floodwaters in Acacia Ridge this morning.

Flooding in Hutcheson St in Albion. Picture: Adam Armstrong

Two crews ferried the Brisbane Christian College children, who ranged from pre-school to Year 10, to safety with inflatable boats about 9.30am.

Emergency services said the children were stranded on Paradise Road for 90 minutes.

"It wasn't a dangerous situation, no one was hurt," said a Queensland Fire Service spokesman.

"One of the kids was happy they missed science."

The bus and five other cars that were also stranded have been towed away.

Emergency services are continuing to warn drivers to avoid flooded roads.

At 11.34am, it was reported that one of the two systems bringing rain over southeast Queensland will start to move east and begin to weaken from tonight, with heavy rain contracting north in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Flooding in Hutcheson St in Albion. Picture: Adam Armstrong

Substantial rain will continue on the Sunshine Coast, stretching north to Bundaberg and St Lawrence in central Queensland.

Heavy falls of up to 200mm over 24 hours are predicted between St Lawrence and Bundaberg today, becoming more widespread tonight and tomorrow.

Weather Bureau forecasters warn localised totals in excess of 200mm are possible, particularly near the coast.

Got a great pic of the weather at your place? Send it to us via MMS to 0428 258 117 or email it to cmonline@qnp.newsltd.com.au

The heaviest rain is currently over the Sunshine Coast and Lockyer Valley southwest of Brisbane, with 24 hour totals of 80mm to 100mm.

Emu Park near Rockhampton also is getting a drenching.

Steady rain in Brisbane this morning caused traffic chaos and isolated pockets of minor flooding, including Albion.

THE state's southeast has been warned the next few days will bring rainfall levels similar to the dumping that caused major damage during ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald a month ago. Burnett Heads lifesaver Erin Gibson, 17, yesterday patrolled a sparsely populated beach where a yacht has been stranded for a month.

The Burnett Highway near Mt Morgan is closed due to 35 land slips, as is Mt Sylvia Rd near Laidley, southwest of Brisbane.

An upper low across central Queensland is expected to move slowly east today and begin weakening from tonight.

A second surface trough lies off the Capricorn coast and is expected to move west in the next 24 hours.

Locations which may be affected include Emu Park, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Gympie, Bundaberg, Kingaroy, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, the Sunshine Coast and adjacent hinterland areas, Brisbane, Ipswich, the Lockyer Valley, Esk and the Cunningham Range.

 The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the heaviest downpours will be on the southeast Queensland coast and adjacent hinterland.

BOM forecaster Ken Kato said there was "no clear end to this rain event in sight".

"The wet weather will last the whole week, with showers easing later tomorrow afternoon and Wednesday morning," he said.

Six waterspouts formed off the Queensland coast on Sunday amid wild weather warnings. One twisted across the beach and caused damage to the Bundaberg Surf Lifesaving Club building. SEE VIDEO AND MORE PICTURES

"Showers will continue to hang around south of Queensland's central coast to the border."

A severe weather warning is still in place for Gladstone, Gympie, Bundaberg, Kingaroy, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, Brisbane, Ipswich, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast and adjacent hinterland areas.

At 8am, it was reported that relieved Bundaberg residents woke to light drizzle but the weather bureau says the rain is not over yet - with another surface trough developing offshore.

The Bundaberg region has experienced moderate falls of up to 55mm so far, but heavier falls of up to 200mm could still be on the way.

Meterologist Michelle Berry said a second surface trough was developing off the Wide Bay-Burnett and Capricorn coasts, and should move inland tonight bringing "persistent" rainfall tonight and tomorrow, easing into Wednesday.

Overnight, flood-weary Queenslanders were warned to steel themselves for another "kick in the ribs" by Mother Nature.

Authorities already struggling to repair hundreds of millions of dollars of damaged roads and bridges will have a fresh onslaught of heavy rainfall to deal with across the state's southeast today.

Flooding in Hutcheson St in Albion. Picture: Adam Armstrong

There are fears that damaged roads from the January floods will not survive another drenching as some regions brace for up to 400mm of rain over the next 48 hours, based on weather bureau predictions.

The heavy rain is set to ease on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

Got a great pic of the weather at your place? Send it to us via MMS to 0428 258 117 or email it to cmonline@qnp.newsltd.com.au

Flood-ravaged Bundaberg, still mopping up after one of its worst floods on record, is among those in the firing line.

The damage bill from January's flooding has already reached $1.1 billion, with another $1 billion of state assets yet to be assessed.

There are now fears the bill - which threatens to outstrip that of the 2011-12 floods - could rise again.

Minister for Local Government, Community Recovery and Resilience David Crisafulli said the longer a road stayed wet, the higher the chance it would incur structural damage.

"At a time when people really want to get on with the rebuild it is another swift kick in the ribs," Mr Crisafulli said.

"I want people to understand that while it is terrible timing, the moment this goes we must continue the great effort that has been there," he said.

"We just have to treat this for what it is and that is another speed bump thrown at us by Mother Nature.

"We can't let it destroy our resolve. There has been some really good progress."

Transport Minister Scott Emerson said he was concerned about the impact of the latest weather system on the road network, with 3642km open to motorists under either a reduced speed limit or other restriction and 109km of roads still closed to traffic.

The Burnett Highway, near Mt Morgan, remains closed due to 35 landslips, as does Mt Sylvia Rd near Laidley.

Roads still open but with restrictions include the Capricorn, Warrego, Cunningham, Gore and Leichhardt highways.

Wivenhoe Dam releases doubled ahead of expected deluge. Picture: Channel Ten News

The weather bureau's Richard Wardle said the 400mm of rainfall would be spaced over days rather than during one day as it was in January during ex-tropical cyclone Oswald.

But he predicted falls of 100-200mm over 24 hours and up to 400mm over a broad area over the next 48 hours.

"For Monday and Tuesday we're looking at a large area receiving quite heavy rainfalls along the coast.

"Heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding are our main concerns," Mr Wardle said.

Seqwater yesterday began preparing for the wet by releasing water from dams.

Corporate and community relations manager Mike Foster said the releases, from North Pine Dam and Wivenhoe Dam, were low-level.

Water was being released from Wivenhoe Dam at 280 cubic metres a second, compared to 1500 cubic metres a second on Australian Day weekend.

Flooding in Hutcheson St in Albion. Picture: Adam Armstrong

The temporary full supply level for North Pine Dam was being drawn down to 88 per cent, similar to the temporary full supply of Wivenhoe.

"It's very much a precautionary decision that has been taken," Mr Foster said.

The wet weather had already begun for Bundaberg yesterday, with 20mm of rain as of 5pm and more on the way.

Logan City had 26mm by 3pm yesterday, while Gladstone, Gympie, Kingaroy, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Ipswich and the Gold Coast are also in for heavy falls today and tomorrow as a slow-moving upper trough and associated upper low crosses the state.

Bundaberg authorities also reported six waterspouts off Bargara, causing the evacuation of beaches and minor damage to the Bundaberg Surf Life Saving Club building.

Reporting by Brian Williams, Naomi Lim, Kelmeny Fraser, Rikki-Lee Arnold, Tom Chamberlin, Kathleen Donaghey

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Flash-flooding alert for Brisbane

Dengan url

https://ceritaperdanaku.blogspot.com/2013/02/flash-flooding-alert-for-brisbane.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Flash-flooding alert for Brisbane

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Flash-flooding alert for Brisbane

sebagai sumbernya