Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Southeast Coast and parts of Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central West, Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett, Maranoa and Warrego, Darling Downs and Granite Belt and Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders Forecast Districts.

Issued at 4:18 pm Thursday, 21 December 2023.

INTENSE RAINFALL RISK CONTINUES OVER SOUTHEAST QUEENSLAND.

Weather Situation: Slow moving severe thunderstorms have developed along a trough in a very humid airmass through inland parts of southeast Queensland this afternoon and are expected to continue throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

VERY DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS are likely to produce heavy, locally intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett, Southeast Coast and Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts. Locations which may be affected include Ipswich, Esk, Gatton, Jimboomba, Laidley and Lowood.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in the Southeast Coast and parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett, Maranoa and Warrego and Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts. Locations which may be affected include Toowoomba, Dalby, Kingaroy, Ipswich, Lowood and Nanango.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central West and Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders districts. Locations which may be affected include Jericho, Aramac, Natal Downs, Elgin Downs and Aberfoyle.

76.0 mm was recorded in 1 hour to 3:07pm at Gormans Gap (South of Toowoomba)

54.0 mm was recorded in 1 hour to 3:01 pm at Millbrook

79.0 mm was recorded in 1 hour to 12:09 pm at Upper Bracker Creek (West of Stanthorpe).

43.0 mm was recorded in 1 hour to 12:40 pm at Dalcouth

Emergency services advise people to:
* If you have children make sure they are with you or an adult you trust.
* Park your car undercover away from trees.
* Close doors and windows.
* Keep asthma medications close by. Storms and wind can trigger asthma attacks.
* Charge mobile phones and power banks in case the power goes out.
* Put your pets somewhere safe and make sure they can be identified in case they get lost.
* Do not drive now unless you have to because conditions are dangerous.
* Tell friends, family and neighbours in the area.
* Go inside a strong building now. Stay inside until the storm has passed.