Fresh storm warnings after deluge during heatwave

Severe storms are forecast for Queensland and NSW on Tuesday — as flash flooding hit Brisbane and Sydney sweltered through another scorcher.

Brisbane was bracing for more storms on Tuesday after an overnight deluge dumped more than 127 millimetres on Monday night.

The city woke up to scores of roads under water and traffic chaos brought on by the intense scattered downpours.

More storms were forecast for Queensland’s south-east on Tuesday and across the states east and north. The heaviest falls, which could lead to flooding, were expected between Mackay and Brisbane.

But inland and western areas of Queensland, which have endured a heatwave, were expected to remain dry and very hot.

NSW was also in line for thunderstorms and gusty winds in the south-east and north-west.

“Storms may become severe about south and central coast and ranges this afternoon or evening,” said a weather update.

“Thunderstorms also possible about the north-east, with the risk of heavy rain in those parts.”

It was a hot day for much of NSW on Tuesday after Monday’s record-breaking heatwave.

Western Sydney and other inland areas were expected to reach the low 40s.

Monday was one of the hottest December days for Australia since 2109. Parts of Victoria, NSW, Queensland and South Australia topped 45 degrees.

The Northern Territory faces severe to extreme heatwave conditions for much of the next three days.

Brisbane flooding

More than 127 millimetres of rain fell in Brisbane on Monday night, while other areas in Queensland’s south-east got up to 100 millimetres.

Hervey Bay in the Wide Bay region was battered by 120 millimetres of rain overnight after severe storms struck Queensland’s coast.

It was followed by a severe storm sweeping across parts of Ipswich, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Brisbane City and Moreton Bay about 2am on Tuesday, bringing heavy rain and causing flooding.

Police warned drivers to avoid Gympie Road as westbound lanes near Strathpine Road in Bald Hills were flooded.

Since midday on Monday, the State Emergency Service has received 78 calls for help, mostly for sandbags and tarps on the Fraser Coast, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. It said five of those had been since midnight in the Moreton Bay and Somerset region.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the wet weather ahead of the festive season was due to a low-pressure system off the central Queensland coast near Mackay and a coastal trough bringing moist and unstable conditions.

Areas from Mackay down to Brisbane are expected to receive the most rain on Tuesday, as thunderstorms and a widespread deluge strike the coast.

“There is a risk of severe thunderstorms bringing locally heavy falls that could lead to flash flooding between Yeppoon and Brisbane,” meteorologist Angus Hines said.

Hines said the ground in the state’s south-east was saturated, which meant flash flooding and river flooding were likely with another downpour.

There are flood warnings and watches in the Wide Bay, Burnett and south coast catchments. This includes a moderate flood warning for the Mary River downstream of Gympie and a minor flood warning for the Brisbane River to Wivenhoe Dam.

Meanwhile, an extreme and severe heatwave warning is in place for inland parts of Queensland including Mount Isa and Cloncurry.

Mount Isa is expected to reach 44 degrees on Tuesday, Richmond could reach 42 degrees and Urandangi may hit 46.