World · East Asia & Pacific · 35 mins ago
Heavy rain brings flash flooding and rescues across Queensland
Heavy rain has brought flash flooding to parts of Queensland, especially across the central and south-east of the state.
Members of the public rescued motorists from floodwaters in two separate incidents overnight, while police say people are still driving into flooded areas.
More than 150 millimetres of rain fell at Caboolture, north of Brisbane, and a severe thunderstorm warning covers Brisbane and several nearby areas.
Authorities warn that flash floods can rise with little warning, and urge people to avoid driving through floodwater and move away from low-lying areas.
The rain is welcome after dry conditions in some regions, but it is disrupting grain harvests and has flooded places where people sleep rough.
More rain is expected in the coming days, with warnings in place for several rivers and storms forecast to continue into next week.
Heavy rain across central and southern Queensland has caused flash flooding and prompted rescues.
Members of the public rescued people from floodwaters in two separate incidents, police said.
Caboolture recorded more than 150 millimetres of rain since midnight, according to the ABC, while Nine reported 109 millimetres in two hours.
Authorities issued severe weather warnings and urged people to avoid driving through floodwaters.
The rain is easing drought conditions in some areas but has damaged crops during harvest.
- Who
- Residents, motorists and farmers in Queensland have been affected. Members of the public rescued people from floodwaters.
- What
- Heavy rain has caused flooding and prompted rescue incidents, warnings and school closures.
- When
- The rain and rescues occurred overnight and on October 21, 2026. More wet weather was expected in the coming days.
- Where
- Central and southern Queensland, including the south-east, Caboolture and Brisbane.
- Why
- A low-pressure system over central and outback Queensland brought storms and heavy rain.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Parts of south-west Queensland were drought-declared.
Scott Loughnan recorded more than 160 millimetres of rain on his property in Muckadilla.
Heavy rain fell across parts of Queensland, and people were rescued from floodwaters.
Severe weather warnings were issued for parts of Queensland, with further rain expected.
- Caboolture
- More than 150mm since midnight, according to the ABC
- Caboolture
- 109mm in two hours, according to Nine.com.au
- Eatons Hill
- 106mm recorded
- Canungra
- About 100mm in 24 hours
- Muckadilla
- More than 160mm recorded on Scott Loughnan’s property in the past week
- School closures
- Morayfield State High School and two independent schools closed
6 sources
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What people are saying
In both cases they've been carried out by other members of the public, and we are receiving a large amount of calls in regards to people being observed driving into floodwaters
We’ve had over 100mm in the last 12 hours on the Gold Coast, and we are expecting flash flooding to occur today
We have so many people who aren't on reticulated water and rely on rainwater for their water tanks, and I know a lot of people have started buying water recently. We love the rain.
This has cost us personally, half a million dollars or more, in lost …