Bracing for the big storm: Wild weather lashing east coast

A massive rain system is blanketing southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales this morning.

An intense low is expected to work its way down the east coast, bringing torrential rain, dangerous winds and flooding.

In Queensland, areas including Logan and the Gold Coast are expecting the heaviest falls.

There are warnings for dangerous seas and coastal erosion.

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In northern New South Wales residents are being joined by SES volunteers in preparation for the wild weather.

Some towns have already copped a drenching, and the conditions are expected to deteriorate through the weekend.

The low is expected to dump between 200 and 400mm of rain across the already sodden region.

The Sunshine Coast will be first to feel the effects, with wild weather expected there from later on Friday morning.

Brisbane and the Gold Coast will be next as the system tracks south towards the NSW.

"It'll be mostly in the afternoon and into the evening for the Brisbane area and it will be quite intense for a number of hours, particularly near the coast where the winds will be strong as well," Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Peter Otto told the ABC.

As well as torrential rain and the risk of flash flooding, residents have been warned to expect winds gusting up to 90km/h.

Dangerous surf conditions are expected at Fraser Island, and at Sunshine and Gold Coast beaches.

"The dangerous surf conditions are likely to produce significant beach erosion for these areas today and early Saturday," the bureau has warned.

A flood watch is current for parts of the Capricornia, Central Highlands and Coalfields, Wide Bay and Burnett, Southeast Coast, Darling Downs and Granite Belt and Maranoa and Warrego forecast districts.

Morning news break – May 1