Southeast Queensland is set to cop a drenching with a month’s worth of rain tipped to fall on Sunday and Monday.

December 12, 2020

Southeast Queenslanders have been urged to prepare homes and rethink travel with a month’s worth of rain tipped to fall in less than a day.

Up to 150mm of rain is forecast for Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine coasts by Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

The heaviest rain is expected on Sunday along with gale-force winds, dangerous swells and surf and flooding likely.

“It’s looking like some locations could see a month’s worth of rainfall, particularly on Sunday night, within a 12 to 18-hour period,” meteorologist Rosa Hoff told AAP.

A slow-moving cold air mass moved east over the Great Dividing Range bringing rain on Friday.

Sunshine Coast Airport copped 93mm of rain by Saturday morning and North Stradbroke Island received 80mm before conditions eased during the afternoon.

But the massive weather system is set to reload on Sunday.

“Today has been the first signs we’re expecting heavier rain to fall into Monday,” Ms Hoff said.

A severe weather warning for damaging winds, abnormally high tides and dangerous surf is in place from Fraser Island to the NSW border. Gusts of up to 90km/h are possible.

Swells up to 4.5m are expected and a flood alert is in place for low-lying areas.

Significant beach erosion in coastal areas is also possible into Tuesday when a new-moon king tide is 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 Parks and Wildlife urged people to reconsider plans to visit national parks in the state’s southeast during the wild weather.