The wild weather is far from over for southeast Queensland and northern NSW. Residents have been warned to brace for more heavy rain, raising fears of significant flooding.
Intense rain, thunderstorms and large hail lashed parts of Australia's east coast on Monday, caused by a massive storm front stretching 500km across the southeast.
The region is set to get wet again on Tuesday, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning the forecast is 'dangerous' for residents.
“This situation remains dangerous and dynamic,” said meteorologist Miriam Bradbury.
Heavy and widespread rainfall will continue from Gympie to the NSW border, raising fears of 'life-threatening flash flooding'.
Images shared on social media showed a Queensland driver stranded and sitting on the roof of his car surrounded by floodwaters (pictured)
Authorities rescued the driver, but the car was left behind (photo)
Up to 200 millimeters of rain in just three hours is forecast for the region, with localized intense rainfall possibly exceeding daily totals of 350 millimeters.
Springbrook in the Gold Coast hinterland was hit with rainfall of up to 500mm in the 24 hours to 9pm on Monday.
The Bureau of Meteorology also warned that the storms were 'variable', making them difficult to predict.
A severe weather warning remains in force for Queensland's south-east coast, including Burnett, Wide Bay, Brisbane and the Gold Coast hinterland.
Authorities have issued flood warnings for most of the region's major rivers, urging residents to stay off the roads and avoid low-lying areas.
A severe weather warning remained in effect for the state's southeast coast this morning.
Seqwater warned residents downstream of the Nindoinbah Dam, west of the Gold Coast, and the Leslie Harrison Dam, in Brisbane's southeast, to avoid fast-flowing or deep water near floodplains and waterways after the dams closed in excess late in the day water started to spill due to heavy rain. Monday.
It comes as terrifying images emerged of a driver sitting on the roof of his Kia surrounded by raging floodwaters.
The park in Mudgeeraba is flooded after flash flooding caused by rainfall on the Gold Coast on Monday evening
Residents look at the swollen Coomera River on the Gold Coast on Monday
Queensland authorities said forecast rainfall indicates releases may be required from the North Pine and Somerset dams within the next 24 to 48 hours.
Isolated showers are forecast along the southern and central NSW coast later on Tuesday as the weather system weakens as it moves south towards Victoria.
Residents of Tumbulgum, in northern NSW, were urged to prepare to be isolated by floodwaters late on Monday amid moderate flooding in the area.
Further south in Lismore, emergency authorities advised people to stay aware of potentially dangerous flooding on the Wilsons River.
State disaster coordinator Shane Chelepy said on Monday the Gold Coast was soaked, with Currumbin Creek receiving 571mm of rain in 24 hours, Upper Springbrook 350mm, Mount Tamborine 161mm and Pimpama more than 375mm.
Flash floods caused by the overflowing Coomera River (photo)
There is flooding at Clear Island Lake due to overnight rainfall on the Gold Coast
A Queensland resident observes the raging waters on the Coomera River on Monday
Limpinwood in NSW received 307mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday, Numinbah 297mm, Coffs Harbor Airport 205mm and Sawtell 190mm.
“Our waterways and infrastructure are not built to withstand such a large amount of rain in such a short period of time,” Ms Bradbury said.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms are forecast across most of Queensland on Tuesday.
The State Emergency Service (SES) has received more than 4,000 calls for help since Christmas, with at least 460 received on Monday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett and Southeast Coast areas. Residents are urged to stay off the roads and avoid low-lying areas as heavy rainfall could cause flash flooding
Hundreds of people were moved from three campsites in the Gold Coast hinterland, while about 40 roads were closed due to rising waters.
About 16,000 people on the Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim are without power after a tornado hit on Christmas Day.
Emergency officials expect the number of residents without power to rise as the region is hit by the developing storm.
Meanwhile, residents of Tamborine Mountain will likely wait until January 5 before they get power again.