Australia Weather News

An emergency watch and act alert has been issued for the Sunshine Coast after intense overnight rainfall caused flash flooding. 

Multiple people have been rescued from their cars and flood warnings have been issued for the hinterland region after the hinterland copped a massive overnight downpour.

A total of 370 millimetres of rain was recorded at West Woombye since yesterday morning, while Nambour, Eudlo and Diamond Valley received more than 300mm.

Nambour has now broken the March rainfall record with data going back to 1893.

Roads around Nambour, Palmwoods and Yandina are flooded and closed with authorities warning people to move to higher ground, avoid driving unless necessary, and not to drive through floodwaters.

Towing company boss Mike Clayton rescued a couple stranded just outside his depot in Nambour early this morning.

Mr Clayton said the car hit the water and began floating away.

"A few people were stuck inside, couldn't get the doors open, the windows wouldn't go down," he said.

"We were trying to smash the windows to get them out of the car, and we ended up getting inside the car and carrying them out."

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said there were 17 swift water rescues in South-East Queensland overnight.

Two cars were trapped in floodwaters on Carter Street in Nambour just after 3.30am. 

Another car was caught in floodwaters on Dunning Street in Palmwoods just after 4am. 

Meanwhile, paramedics responded to people stuck in their home on Perwillowen Road in Burnside about 3.20am. 

Rising floodwaters have surrounded Joe Wells's high-set home on Shearer Street in Nambour.

He became stranded with his partner, their child and Rottweiler dog early this morning.

"I've lived on the coast for probably 32 years and I've never seen it this bad," Mr Wells said.

Dicky Beach resident Don Paterson said he was one of 54 people now on what he described as "an island" at the Nambour Showgrounds evacuation centre.

"We've had some quite shocked and traumatised people covered with towels and blankets around their necks and bodies. They've been rescued from a ute outside Yandina caravan park," Mr Paterson told ABC Breakfast presenter Tim Wong-See.

"We had 23 people here sleeping in the evacuation centre last night and that has now risen to 54 people and we're up to 36 animals."

Taxi driver Thomas Engstrom said he spent four hours trying to drive a passenger home from the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

He said he had to try multiple different routes after encountering flooded roads at every turn.

"It took me probably from 3.30 till about 7.30am to get the poor nurse back to Nambour," he said.

"You've just got to keep on trying. That's where local knowledge comes in."

The SES has received 42 calls for assistance across the Sunshine Coast in the 24 hours to 4am.

The weather bureau has issued a minor flood warning for the Maroochy, Mooloolah and Noosa rivers.

Public schools in Burnside, Nambour and Palmwoods are closed today, as is Glasshouse Christian College.