Australia Weather News

Rainfall is expected to ease significantly in south-east Queensland overnight after record-breaking totals. 

On the Gold Coast, "prepare now" alerts are in place for Currumbin Valley and Tallebudgera, where residents have been told to expect moderate flooding.

The City of Gold Coast said damage to property and roads was expected, and flooding could get worse quickly. 

The earlier Watch and Act alert at Currumbin Valley has been downgraded. 

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Shane Kennedy said catchments had responded quickly to the deluge, as the weather system that flooded the state's outback moved south. 

"There's already minor to moderate flooding across a few catchments in the south-east, and some isolated major flooding around Tiaro on the Mary River," he said.

But reprieve is on its way, as the heavy rainfall moves offshore.

"That rainfall should decrease significantly overnight Saturday and continuing into Sunday … which should give all of us a bit of a break," Mr Kennedy said.

In the Gold Coast hinterland, 24-hour rainfall totals have reached up to 200mm.

Strong onshore winds, hazardous surf and significant swells are predicted along the coast — potentially eroding beaches that were smashed by massive ocean swells generated by Alfred's approach.

A wet weather system currently over Hervey Bay is expected to move south on Saturday afternoon, bringing more rain to the region.

Gold Coast local disaster coordinator Mark Ryan said it could bring hazardous winds of up 55 kph and another 100mm of rain.

"We're really keen for people particularly along those Tallebudgera and Currumbin catchments to really keep an eye on it," he said.

River flood warnings

Further north, warnings are in place for the Mary River, with major flooding likely at Tiaro and minor flooding at Gympie and Maryborough in the afternoon.

The Kidd Bridge over the Mary River is underwater with the river expected to rise at least another metre by Saturday afternoon. 

Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig said there had been heavy rainfall across the Mary River catchment.

"If you're out on the road, travel with extreme care, there is a lot of localised flooding and heavy inundation in different pockets and go to the council disaster dashboard to get regular updates," he said.

Wide Bay and Fraser Coast saw the largest falls on Saturday morning.

"There were quite a few locations that picked up around 100, 120 millimetres in two or three hours, so breaching some heavy and even intense rainfall thresholds," he said.

West of Maryborough,Owanyilla, recorded 295mm in 24 hours.

The Mount Elliot station, east of Gympie, set a new annual record with a daily rainfall total of 295 millimetres.

Meanwhile Lady Elliot Island saw the wettest night in decades with almost 300mm in under 24 hours, custodian Peter Gash said. 

"At Lady Elliot we have a saying it never rains but it pours but geez, last night set some good records.

"I'm 40 years in the place and my memory's pretty good with numbers and I don't think it's come anything close."

Record rainfall

Not including yesterday's rain, the Brisbane CBD had registered 508mm of rainfall for March — well above the month's average of 140mm.

The Gold Coast dramatically exceeded its average rainfall for March with just under 500mm registered in the seaway gauge.

On Friday Mayor Tom Tate said work to repair Gold Coast beaches would be paused until the rain eased.

"I can't have heavy equipment on sand that's soft, sodden," he said.

"It's going to cost us a couple of days."

But he said he was still "confident" beach works would be done by the Easter long weekend, renewing his promise to buy beer for everyone on the Gold Coast if he didn't meet the deadline.