Southeast Queenslanders are being urged to prepare for a deluge, with a month’s worth of rain tipped to fall in a day.
Falls of up to 150mm are forecast for Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine coasts on Sunday and Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
The heaviest rain is expected on Sunday with gale-force winds, dangerous swells and surf and flooding likely.
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“It’s looking like some locations could see a month’s worth of rainfall, particularly on Sunday night, within a 12 to 18-hour period,” meteorologist Rosa Hoff told AAP.
A severe weather warning for damaging winds, abnormally high tides and dangerous surf is in place from Fraser Island to the NSW border.
Big swells up to 4.5m are also expected and a flood watch alert is in place for low-lying areas.
Damaging winds with gusts up to 90km/h are also possible.
Significant beach erosion in coastal areas is also possible into Tuesday when a new-moon king tide is forecast.
The 1000km-long mass of cold air set to deliver the rain moved east over the Great Dividing Range late on Friday and it started bucketing down.
NSW weather warning
The situation in northern New South Wales is also expected to deteriorate through Sunday night and Monday.
NSW authorities say that heavy rain, damaging winds, flash flooding and hazardous beach conditions are possible in the NSW north.
Sunshine Coast airport copped 93mm by Saturday morning and North Stradbroke Island received 80mm before conditions eased during the afternoon.
But the massive weather system is set to reload on Sunday.
"‘Have a back-up plan, including an alternative route.’"
Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan said people need to plan ahead if they intend travelling.
“Have a back-up plan, including an alternative route, if the weather takes a turn,” he said.
He also urged people to prepare properties and protect loved ones.
“Staying indoors during bad weather, removing debris from around the home and having emergency and evacuation plans are all simple steps people can take,” he said.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Greg Leach said experienced teams were ready to respond if an emergency developed.
He urged people to stay away from floodwater and swollen storm drains.
“Floodwater can contain things like rubbish, sewerage and other contaminants such as poisons - the safe option is to steer clear,” he said.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife urged people to reconsider plans to visit national parks in the state’s southeast during the wild weather.
There are significant risks to visitors from flooded creeks or falling trees, Acting Senior Ranger Jessica Rosewell warned.
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