Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in parts of Central Highlands and Coalfields, Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett, Maranoa and Warrego and Darling Downs and Granite Belt Forecast Districts.

Issued at 7:40 pm Monday, 29 January 2024.

AREA OF LIKELY INTENSE RAINFALL MOVING INTO THE CENTRAL DARLING DOWNS BETWEEN TARA AND GOONDIWINDI.

Weather Situation: A low pressure trough and a very humid, unstable air mass lie over the southern interior of Queensland, triggering thunderstorms with heavy to intense rainfall.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in 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 Dalby, Roma, Charleville, Kingaroy, and Goondiwindi.

VERY DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS are likely to produce heavy, locally intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding and damaging winds over the next several hours in parts of the Darling Downs and Granite Belt district. Locations likely to be affected include Tara and the area south of Tara.

57 mm in 1 hour to 5:07 am at Consuelo Alert (southern Central Highlands)

53 mm in 1 hour to 6:43 am at Wallumbilla TM (east of Roma)

105 mm in 3 hours to 5:14 pm at St George.

102 km/h wind gust at St George at 2:47 pm.

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.