Flood warnings as heavy rains to dampen start to new year

Heavy rainfall is expected to batter parts of Australia's east coast on New Year's Day, with flood-ravaged communities bracing for more potential flash flooding.

Residents of Queensland's far southeast including the Gold Coast, Coolangatta, Tamborine Mountain and Springbrook were on high alert on Sunday night with a severe weather warning forecasting locally intense rainfall.

The downpour was predicted to affect the region overnight on New Year's Eve and persist through Monday, with three to six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 mm and 160 mm possible, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Total 24-hour rainfall totals could exceed 200mm in some areas, more likely around the ranges.

However, particularly intense rainfall of up to 250mm over six hours could lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding, the bureau warned.

"Heavy rainfall will be associated with shower and thunderstorm activity, which is likely to be hit-and-miss in nature across the warning area," the bureau said in an alert.

"There is significant uncertainty in the movement and timing of features, but at this stage the heavy rainfall risk may persist into Tuesday morning."

A severe weather warning for damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall was also in place on New Year's Eve for people in parts of the Central Coast, Whitsundays, Central Highlands, Coalfields, Maranoa, Warrego, Darling Downs and Granite Belt forecast districts.

The bureau warned of possible flash flooding over several hours from about 10.40pm, after Carmila in the Isaac region recorded 99mm of rainfall between about 7.30pm and 8.30pm on Sunday.

An earlier weather warning for the Northern Goldfields and upper Flinders districts was cancelled as of Sunday evening.

In NSW, a high pressure system moving into the Tasman Sea was directing persistent and humid easterly winds over parts of the state's northeast late on Sunday night.

Possible heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding was predicted for the northern rivers, parts of the mid-north coast and northern tablelands overnight on New Year's Eve and on Monday.

Three to six-hourly rainfall totals of up to 160mm and 24-hourly totals of more than 250mm were possible, the bureau said.

"Localised intense rainfall is possible under areas of persistent heavy thunderstorms," it said.

Coffs Harbour Airport recorded more than 188mm in the three hours to 2.50pm on Sunday.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.