The risk of heavy rainfall is set to persist across southeast Queensland, following significant flooding that prompted multiple rescues, including the evacuation of dozens of students from a school camp.
Emergency services conducted over ten rescues throughout the region, notably saving 48 Year 12 students and teachers from North Lakes State College in Brisbane.
The group became stranded when floodwaters rose rapidly while they were attending a camp at Mount Barney in the Scenic Rim. Water rescue teams and State Emergency Service (SES) crews were dispatched around 5 PM on Monday after the group could not cross a flooded area to return to their camp. All individuals were safely evacuated without injury, and the school confirmed via social media that families had been notified.
Flash flooding also caused the closure of several major roads on the Gold Coast, as the SES received over 100 calls for assistance. Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecaster Sarah Scully noted that rain began Sunday night, leading to rapidly rising river levels and minor to moderate flooding.
“A flood warning is currently in effect for the Narang and Coomera River catchments,” Scully said.
The heavy rain band caused widespread deluges across southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales. The Gold Coast experienced the heaviest impact, with over a month’s worth of rain falling in 24 hours.
“The heaviest rainfall in the 24 hours to 6 AM this morning was along the southeast coast, with highest totals near the Gold Coast, including 208 mm at Springbrook National Park and 186 mm at the Gold Coast Highway Station at Coombabah Creek,” Scully reported.
The BOM noted that this was the wettest May day since 2015 for some gauges. In NSW near the Queensland border, 171 mm fell at Couchy Creek and 170 mm at Upper Rous River near Hopkins Creek. A minor flood warning for the Tweed River has since been cancelled, but a warning remains for the Wilsons River, and a flood watch is active for the NSW Mid North Coast and Northern River catchments.
Scully attributed the heavy rain to a slow-moving rain band tapping into tropical moisture, combined with a coastal trough lingering off the coast over the weekend. This system produced moderate to heavy rainfall since Sunday night, with severe thunderstorms contributing to higher totals.
The rain band is expected to continue affecting eastern Queensland and NSW on Tuesday, with further heavy rain possible. “Rainfall will continue today across central and southeastern Queensland, but not as heavy as Monday, with gradual easing and contraction to the southeast, clearing by evening,” Scully said.
In NSW, eastern parts will see another wet day, especially the northeast quadrant, with heavier falls possible in the morning around the northern and central tablelands. An easing trend is expected by evening or overnight, with a risk of storms along the northern coastal fringe bringing heavier falls.
