A major rainfall event is expected to lash southeast Queensland over the weekend, with gale-force winds and flooding in low-lying areas likely.

December 11, 2020

Southeast Queensland is set to cop a drenching as a huge slow-moving cold air mass settles in for the weekend.

More than 200mm of rain is forecast for Brisbane and on the Gold and Sunshine coasts from Saturday, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

“A significant rainfall event will unfold,” meteorologist Laura Boekel told reporters on Friday.

A severe weather warning for damaging winds, abnormally high tides and dangerous surf has been issued from Fraser Island to the NSW border.

Gale-force winds and flooding in low-lying areas are also likely.

The 1000km-long and growing weather system was on the western side of the Great Dividing Range on Friday afternoon.

“The system is still amplifying. It hasn’t reached its maturity but it’s already coming across the Darling Downs,” meteorologist Livio Regano told AAP.

“It’s maturing as it moves and will reach peak intensity on Sunday, and when that happens it will be sitting right on top of us.”

Significant beach erosion in coastal areas is also possible on Tuesday with a new-moon king tide forecast.

Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan said people need to plan ahead if they intend to travel.

“Have a back-up plan, including an alternative route, if the weather takes a turn,” he said.

He also urged people to prepare their properties and protect their loved ones.

“Staying indoors during bad weather, removing debris from around the home and having emergency and evacuation plans are all simple steps people can take,” he said.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Greg Leach said experienced teams were ready to respond should an emergency take place.

He urged people to stay away from floodwater and swollen storm drains.

“Floodwater can contain things like rubbish, sewerage and other contaminants such as poisons – the safe option is to steer clear,” he said.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife urged people to reconsider plans to visit national parks in the state’s southeast during the wild weather.

There are significant risks to visitors from flooded creeks or falling trees.

“Even usually benign activities such as walking, hiking or mountain bike riding could become extremely dangerous,” Acting Senior Ranger Jessica Rosewell said.

“It’s not only visitors subject to these significant risks … it’s also emergency crews who may have to go out and try to rescue someone if they’ve got stuck because of a flooded creek or a tree comes down on them.”

The cold air mass or upper-level low is also known as a cold-core cyclone and occurs high above the Earth in the troposphere.

Meanwhile, a tropical low about 500km northeast of Vanuatu is expected to continue developing over the weekend.

It could reach tropical cyclone strength by early next week.

However, the system is not expected to move southwest towards Australia in the near future.