Queensland has been hit by massive flooding as ex-tropical cyclone Imogen blasts through parts of the state’s north.
Roads have been cut-off after a week’s worth of rain fell in just one day, while trees uprooted during 100km/h wind gusts have smashed cars and homes.
And there are warnings there the situation is about to get worse, with more widespread heavy rainfall of up to 300mm and damaging winds on the way.
Residents are being warned to expect life-threatening flooding.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for northeastern Queensland.
The areas include Herbert and Lower Burdekin and parts of North Tropical Coast and Tablelands and Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders forecast districts.
‘Six hourly rainfall totals between 150 mm to 200 mm are possible,’ the bureau warned on Tuesday.
A severe weather warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall is in place for parts of North Queensland
Up to 300mm of rain is expected across parts of North Queensland with warnings of life-threatening flash flooding (pictured, flooding on the Gulf Development Road)
There are warnings for damaging and destructive winds, with wind gusts of 100km/h already recorded (pictured, a a tree crashed onto a car in Normanton)
The damaging winds have already caused havoc to the Barramundi Discovery Centre in Karumba, pictured
‘Periods of localised intense rainfall leading to life-threatening flash flooding with six hourly totals of 300mm about the coast and ranges in the warning area are also possible.
‘Damaging to locally destructive winds are possible with thunderstorms about coastal areas from Ingham to Ayr.
‘Areas north of Babinda are no longer likely to experience widespread heavy rainfall, however thunderstorm activity may produce some more localised heavy rainfall in this area, especially Tuesday afternoon.’
The bureau advised Imogen was 80km east-northeast of Georgetown at 8am AEST and is forecast to track slowly in an east-southeast direction.
A trough extends eastwards through the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands to the south of Innisfail and is forecast to slowly move south.
Several flood warnings are current throughout the area for locations including Townsville, Ingham, Cardwell, Ayr, Giru, Atherton, Ravenshoe, Greenvale and Charters Towers.
Ex-tropical cyclone Imogen made its way to Queensland late on Sunday about 11pm at 85km/h causing widespread flooding and 1,400 power outages (pictured, flooding at Normanton)
The tropical cyclone caused major flash flooding which saw roads across Queensland closed (pictured, at Normanton)
The clean-up operation has begun in Normanton, which bore the brunt of the cylcone earlier in the week
More than 200mm of rain was recorded inland of Cairns and Innisfail on Monday.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services has advised residents to never drive, walk or ride through floodwaters, keep clear of creeks and storm drains and move cars under cover or away from trees.
Ex-tropical Cyclone Imogen crossed the coast north of Karumba shortly before 11pm on Sunday before slowly weakening to a tropical low on Monday.
About 1400 houses were left without power, but there were no reports of injuries, Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said.
‘It would appear at this stage there is no massive damage either, but there is a lot of water,’ she told reporters on Monday.
The system dumped 262mm of rain in Normanton, with 186mm of that falling in six hours up until 3am on Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology’s Pieter Claassen told AAP.
The cyclone saw a massive dumping of 262mm of rain in Normanton – 186mm of fell in a mere six hours until 3am on Monday
Motorists have been warned not to drive through floodwaters and risk their lives (pictured, Queensland floods)
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