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Flood warnings in place as Queensland’s north coast is battered by rain

Queensland’s north coast is being battered by heavy rain as a monsoon trough brings severe thunderstorms and heavy falls to the region.

An alert for potentially life-threatening flash flooding is in place, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning six-hour rainfall totals between 100 and 180mm are likely along a 630km stretch of coast between Cardwell and Carmila.

Isolated 24-hour totals of more than 300mm are also possible on Saturday and into Sunday, the bureau said.

Flood watch notifications are in place for Mackay, Proserpine, Charters Towers, Bowen, Townsville, Moranbah, Collinsville, Ingham and Ayr.

Several major roads – including the Bruce Highway near Mackay – are also partially closed on Saturday due to flooding.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services urged residents to keep up to date with warnings and alerts and not to attempt to drive through flood waters.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, echoed the caution on Saturday morning.

“Follow the advice of the authorities,” he said to reporters. “Don’t risk driving through flood waters if they’re present. Make sure that you stay safe because that’s the most important thing.”

A police 4WD with an officer inside was swept off the Pump Creek causeway, near Almaden in far north Queensland, on Friday afternoon.

The officer managed to get out of the vehicle as it was swept into Pump Creek and swam a short distance to the creek bank. He was not injured.

– AAP