Slow-moving storm cells sparked heavy downpours in central and southern Queensland, dumping more than 100mm in some areas on Tuesday and breaking the previous December rainfall record at Kingaroy.
It led to a string of water rescues in the early hours as floodwaters cut off roads, causing significant damage.
The Bureau of Meteorology said Kingaroy, west of the Sunshine Coast, received 149mm in 24 hours, nearly doubling its record for a December daily rainfall set in 2008.
Initial Minor Flood Warning for the Burrum and Cherwell Rivers— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) MINOR FLOODING OCCURRING AT HOWARD AND POSSIBLE AT PACIFIC HAVEN TUESDAY MORNINGRainfall totals of approximately 30 to 180 mm recorded since 9:00 am Monday in the catchmentDetails: https://t.co/Prs1LdpPUY pic.twitter.com/5ZNjV3R8JiDecember 30, 2024
Queensland's highest rainfall was 182mm at Torbanlea, north of Maryborough on the Fraser Coast, followed by 169mm at Hervey Bay's Black Swamp.
Three people were rescued from a campsite at Toogoom near Maryborough at 3.37am on Tuesday after they were stranded by flooding.
A number of motorists also needed help as water levels rose, with one reportedly seeking shelter in a tree before rescue crews arrived.
A man was transported to hospital after he was rescued from the top of his vehicle which became stuck in floodwaters at 3.43am at Oxford in central Queensland.
Flooding across roads is causing chaos for motorists in Queensland. (Jason O'BRIEN/AAP PHOTOS)
A water rescue team found another motorist in floodwaters near Gladstone after he reportedly climbed out of his car and into a tree about 3.30am.
An emergency alert watch was issued late on Monday for Kingaroy to the South Burnett region northwest of Brisbane, warning residents that flash flooding was occurring.
The region was hit hard by heavy rain with streets cut before the storms moved north.
Seqwater said outflows from the Borumba Dam, south of Gympie, had increased due to continuing rain in the catchment area.
"Avoid potential hazards downstream of the dam such as fast flowing or deep water near waterways and floodplains," the water authority said.
Seqwater said flood releases from southeast Queensland's largest water storage at Wivenhoe Dam were possible within the next 48 hours.
Flood warnings remain for the Fraser Coast's Burrum and Cherwell Rivers, as well as Wide Bay's Stuart River and central Queensland's Boyne River.
The Bureau of Meteorology said Queensland could expect a stormy New Year's Eve, particularly in the southeast.
"Through those southeast areas, cloudy conditions will keep things fairly mild but severe storms may bring heavy rain," the bureau's Miriam Bradbury said.
Showers and storms have been forecast for New Year's Day across Queensland.
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