Northern NSW and southeast Queensland residents on flood alert
Residents of northern NSW and southeast Queensland are on flood alert as heavy rain continues to batter the region.
Mullumbimby in the NSW Northern Rivers has received 128mm of rain by 1pm (AEDT) on Wednesday.
Several flood watches have been issued to areas around northern NSW rivers including the Nambucca, Bellinger and Hastings rivers.
Meanwhile more than 150mm of rain has fallen over Noosa and Tewantin on the Sunshine Coast since midnight.Besides some heavy rainfall, Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast look set to be spared further punishing weather that destroyed cars and ripped roofs from homes on Tuesday.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Ben Harrison said there was the potential for more severe thunderstorms but they were likely to occur in the Darling Downs and Central Highlands.
A man holds a container to capture heavy rain in Maroochydore. Photo: Facebook
The wet weather forecast came just one day after it was revealed 87 per cent of Queensland was in drought, including parts of the southeast.
A severe thunderstorm brought some long-awaited rain to the region on Tuesday, with 57mm falling in the suburb of Petrie, just north of Brisbane, in 30 minutes.
The small town of Esk, west of Brisbane, also received about 60mm of rain within a three-hour period.
Home owners were counting their losses after the storm cell hit Queensland hard on Tuesday. Source: 7 News
The Bureau of Meteorology says the storms could produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in areas including Hope Island, South Stradbroke Island and Jacobs Well.
There's already been heavy rain overnight on the Gold Coast and a severe storm warning has been issued for parts of the Gold Coast on Wednesday.
The BOM says the storms could produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in areas including Hope Island, South Stradbroke Island and Jacobs Well.
