A 71-year-old man was found dead near his vehicle in Queensland’s floodwaters early Thursday morning after storms caused severe flooding across eastern Australia. The man was discovered at 5:20 AM in the Logan suburb of Greenbank during a welfare check by police.
The intense weather is due to two colliding weather systems bringing thunderstorms, heavy rain, and flash flooding. Queensland and New South Wales are expected to receive up to 200mm of rain, with Queensland’s south and northern NSW experiencing particularly severe conditions.
The Bureau of Meteorology reported that these systems are creating wild weather across these regions, with northern NSW facing a “black nor’easter” scenario, characterized by dark clouds, strong winds, and heavy rain.
Heavy rain and storms cause deadly flooding in Queensland; man found near submerged vehicle.Flood alerts are widespread, with Queensland’s south already experiencing significant flooding. Greenbank saw over 100mm of rain in just an hour, leading to nearly 30 road closures. Queensland’s SES responded to 15 flood incidents overnight, assisting with fallen trees and setting up tarps in affected areas.
The Lower Brisbane River catchment is at risk of major flooding, with 50-100mm of rainfall overnight. Northern NSW has also seen flash flooding, with over 80mm of rain in just three hours.
Lismore could face further flooding as the Wilsons River rises. The rain is expected to continue and spread, affecting NSW’s Hunter, North Coast, and Sydney regions.
Sydney may see its dam overflow on Friday with up to 140mm of rain predicted. Coastal NSW should brace for severe rainfall and strong winds, with potential flash flooding. The intense weather is likely to persist into the weekend before easing as the system moves south and out to sea.