Stormy start to new year triggers flash flooding risk for central, southern Queensland

A wet new year has been forecast for a rain-hit region, sparking warnings of more flash flooding.

Campsites were cut off and cars submerged by floodwaters on New Year’s Eve, prompting a string of rescues after heavy downpours in central and southern Queensland.

Rain-hit areas are bracing for more flooding on Wednesday with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of storms and heavy rain.

“There’s a severe thunderstorm across inland and central Queensland and also in the northeast,” the bureau’s Felim Hanniffy told AAP.

“It’s mostly inland rather than coastal areas in the east. Some of these areas would have been impacted already by storms.”

Areas that might not have already flooded could still be at risk, he said.

“You could see some heavy falls .... certainly catchments are wet and that increases the risk of flash flooding especially when you have a lot of moisture in the air to fuel these storms,” Mr Hanniffy said.

Inland areas may also be hit by storm bands on New Year’s Day.

“You’ll have some probably overnight into (Wednesday) morning and they’ll tend to weaken off toward the afternoon and then likely converge over central and inland Queensland,” Mr Hanniffy said.

Damaging winds and large hail from severe storms may impact inland Queensland on Wednesday.

South Burnett Regional Council, northwest of Brisbane, has issued a “watch and act” alert after flash flooding damaged roads in the early hours of New Year’s Eve.

Slow-moving storm cells sparked heavy downpours in central and southern Queensland, dumping more than 100mm in some areas on Tuesday and breaking the previous December rainfall record at Kingaroy.

It led to a string of water rescues in the early hours as floodwaters cut off roads, causing significant damage.

South Burnett Regional Council Mayor Kathy Duff told AAP Kingaroy received its record rainfall within a space of two hours, representing a “one-in-100-year” downpour for the area.