Brisbane and the Gold Coast are on track for their wettest October in six years. Brisbane has recorded about 170 millimetres this month, roughly double its October average of 87 millimetres. Flash floods hit Caboolture and Morayfield, where more than 400 millimetres fell over the past week. The Sunshine Coast is likely to break its October record, with 369 millimetres already recorded at its airport. The Bureau of Meteorology says Brisbane is not expecting heavy falls, apart from possible showers.
Former Fraser Coast councillor and One Nation candidate James Hansen, 57, has been found dead in a flooded creek in Queensland. He went missing on Monday after trying to cross flooded Smothering Creek on Boompa Road, near Maryborough. Police say a report will go to the coroner while investigations continue. Mr Hansen was a dairy farmer and served on Fraser Coast Regional Council for three terms. Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour paid tribute to him as a passionate advocate for rural producers. Severe weather and rising floodwaters continue to affect parts of Queensland.
A man has died after being found unresponsive in floodwaters at Smothering Creek on the Fraser Coast in Queensland. Emergency crews were called shortly after 11am on Monday and declared him dead at the scene. Police are investigating whether the 57-year-old drove into the floodwaters before his death, and a report will go to the Coroner. The death follows torrential rain across the Wide Bay-Burnett region, which triggered flash flooding, road closures and major flood warnings. Authorities have urged motorists not to drive through floodwaters.
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Former Fraser Coast councillor James Hansen, 57, has been identified as the man found dead in floodwaters at Boompa, police say. He served on the Fraser Coast regional council from 2012 to 2024 and ran for One Nation in 2017. Mayor George Seymour called his death a great loss to the community. Police have begun an investigation and will prepare a report for the coroner. Separately, six campers were rescued from flood waters at Leyburn on the Southern Downs.
A 57-year-old man found dead in floodwaters on Queensland's Fraser Coast has been identified as former councillor James Hansen. Emergency services were called to Smothering Creek at Boompa Road in Boompa, west of Maryborough, just after 11am on Monday, after heavy rain. Officers declared him dead on arrival. Police will prepare a report for the coroner while the cause of death is investigated. Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour paid tribute to Mr Hansen, one of the region's last dairy farmers, who served on Fraser Coast Regional Council from 2012 to 2024.
Six campers were rescued from rising floodwaters at a public campground in Leyburn, near Toowoomba, on Monday. Emergency crews were called about 7.45am after the campers woke to find water around their campsite. Queensland Fire and Rescue swiftwater crews rescued all six by about 11.15am, and none were reported injured. Police urged motorists never to drive through floodwater. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast severe thunderstorms continuing into Tuesday across parts of Queensland and New South Wales, with flash flooding possible.
A man's body has been found in floodwaters at Boompa on Queensland's Fraser Coast. Police said he was declared dead after being found in Smothering Creek on Boompa Road, and an investigation has begun. Separately, six campers were rescued after becoming stranded by floodwaters at a public campground in Leyburn, in the Southern Downs. Torrential rain across Queensland from Thursday to Monday has left rivers and roads flooded, with more rain and flooding forecast.
Granville Bridge in Maryborough will remain open to traffic, as revised flood forecasts show river levels peaking lower than previously expected. The Bureau of Meteorology has updated its predictions, and Lamington Bridge at Tinana may reopen later today, depending on rainfall and conditions. The Burrum River Bridge at Howard has reopened after a safety inspection. Two lanes of Adelaide Street are open, though a penstock gate remains lowered as a precaution. Motorists are urged to take care on local roads, as some low-lying areas remain flooded.
Six campers were rescued from floodwater at Leyburn in southern Queensland. A man was found dead in floodwaters at Boompa, and police are investigating the circumstances of his death. The Bureau of Meteorology warns of more thunderstorms across south-east Queensland this afternoon, with some possibly severe. Flooding is easing along the Mary River, though several bridges remain closed. Residents are urged not to drive through floodwater.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe thunderstorm warnings for Sydney, Wollongong and parts of the Blue Mountains. A large multi-state storm system is bringing hail, damaging winds and flash flooding to New South Wales, southern Queensland, the ACT and eastern Victoria. Wind gusts of up to 100km/h were recorded in central west NSW. Eight flood warnings are in place across southern Queensland after heavy rain, with the Mary River forecast to reach major flood levels. Forecasters say Monday will bring the last major burst of storms.
Severe storms with damaging winds, heavy rain and hail have hit several Australian states, with millions on alert. In South Australia, wind gusts near 100km/h damaged property around Port Augusta, and about 12,000 customers lost power. The Bureau of Meteorology warned of flash flooding and power outages across a large area, with severe thunderstorm warnings in place for Sydney and parts of New South Wales. In southern Queensland, eight flood warnings are active after days of torrential rain, and the Mary River is forecast to reach major flood levels.
A severe thunderstorm band with 100km/h wind gusts and torrential rain swept across the Riverina on Sunday. The storm front stretched about 1,000 kilometres, from Lightning Ridge to Victoria's southeast coast. It brought fallen trees, flash downpours and power outages. In Wagga, temperatures fell 8.3 degrees in 30 minutes. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that further thunderstorms and heavy rain remain possible on Sunday afternoon. Residents are urged to avoid fallen trees, damaged powerlines and flooded roads.
The Bureau of Meteorology warns the Mary River may exceed minor flood level at Maryborough early Monday. Two bridges are already closed, and Lamington Bridge is expected to close Sunday evening. Granville Bridge may also close depending on river levels. Motorists are urged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time and check road conditions. Residents should never drive through floodwaters, even without closure signs.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts minor flooding at Maryborough early Monday, with the Mary River expected to peak near 5.6 metres Monday evening. The latest forecast is lower than earlier modelling, but the bureau warns it may change. Lamington Bridge at Tinana is closed due to rising river levels, while Granville Bridge remains open but may close. Adelaide Street is closed in both directions while council installs a penstock gate to guard the CBD against flooding. Motorists are urged to check road conditions before travelling.
Several flood warnings have been issued across Queensland as heavy rain continues. The Mary River at Tiaro is rising rapidly and could reach major flood level. The Gympie Regional Council said the Kidd Bridge into Gympie was likely to close at 5:30pm. The Bureau of Meteorology says the worst of the severe storms could hit south-east Queensland on Monday, bringing large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain. Near Clermont, an Emergency Warning for flash flooding has been lifted, though moderate flood warnings remain for the Warrego and Weir rivers.
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Severe thunderstorms are moving across eastern Australia, bringing warnings of damaging winds and heavy rain. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, with flash flooding possible. Wind gusts of up to 113km/h were recorded at Cabramurra in the Snowy Mountains. Queensland is forecast to be hardest hit, after 100mm to 200mm of rain fell in parts of the Wide Bay-Burnett region. Flood warnings are current in several parts of Queensland, including a major warning for the Mary River at Tiaro.
A major flood warning has been issued for Tiaro, where residents are preparing for a high and potentially damaging Mary River tonight and into Monday. The Bureau of Meteorology says the river at Tiaro is at 8.19 metres and rising, with moderate flooding, and may reach the major flood level of 12 metres overnight. The Mary River at Miva is near moderate flood levels, while Gympie is experiencing minor flooding. Further storms with heavy rain are forecast for the region, which could cause flash flooding.
Floodwaters from a wet monsoon season have turned Australia's central desert green and filled Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. The lake has not been transformed in this way since 1974. Rivers including the Georgina, Diamantina and Cooper Creek carried water to the lake. The lake is expected to shrink as hot months arrive. Its salty water has drawn pelicans, terns and other birds, and fish are returning to the lake. Ornithologist Richard Kingsford said a few hundred dead pelican chicks were likely caused by the lake becoming saltier, not by bird flu.
Further rain and severe thunderstorms are forecast across eastern Australia this weekend, after flash flooding hit Queensland this week. The Bureau of Meteorology recorded up to 450mm of rain in south-east Queensland over seven days, and a storm on Thursday prompted hundreds of calls to emergency services. Flood warnings are in place for parts of Queensland, New South Wales and other states. The Bureau's David Crock said Queensland can expect a wet weekend, and a cold front will bring another round of severe storms to the south-east on Monday.
Thunderstorms and heavy rain are forecast to spread across more than half of Australia this weekend, as two weather systems collide over the east. Severe storms could bring flash flooding, damaging winds and large hail, with supercells possible over parts of New South Wales and Victoria. Rain has already fallen across much of Queensland for 10 consecutive days, and several weather stations have recorded their wettest October on record. Storms are expected to return to the eastern states later in the week, with further heavy rain possible across south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales.
