Queensland storm system kills one man, strands six campers

Police confirmed the death of a man found unresponsive in Smothering Creek on Monday. Emergency services arrived at the location on Boompa Road, near Boompa on the Fraser Coast, shortly after 11:00 a.m. The man was declared dead at the scene. Queensland police opened an investigation and will submit a report to the coroner.

The storm system arrived in parts of Queensland on Thursday. Rain continued through Sunday and persisted into Monday. The weather pattern produced heavy rainfall across the state's south and east. Rivers swelled and roads flooded during the four-day period. The heaviest totals were recorded in Blackdown Tableland near Rockhampton, which measured 439.4mm. Lower Springbrook near the Gold Coast received 325.2mm, and Nambour near the Sunshine Coast logged 314.2mm. Brooweena, inland of K'gari, recorded 299.6mm.

Meteorologist Angus Hines called the atmospheric conditions unusual. He noted that widespread rain bands and cool temperatures were driven by activity in the upper atmosphere. On Sunday evening, a fast-moving system linked thunderstorms from southern Queensland to Bass Strait. Strong high-altitude winds pushed the storm band eastward. Hines said these steering winds weakened overnight over the Darling Downs region.

In the Southern Downs, six campers were stranded at a public campground in Leyburn. Swiftwater crews from Queensland Fire and Rescue received a call for help at 7:45 a.m. on Monday. By 11:15 a.m., the team had safely recovered three men and two women. The men were aged 71, 47, and 26. The women were aged 68 and 26. Police reported that no physical injuries were sustained during the rescue.

Flash flooding also affected the Lockyer Valley west of Brisbane. Police reported issues at Laidley Creek and Glenore Grove on Monday. Several roads were closed to traffic. Flood warnings remain active for the Warrill Creek and Bremer River in the Lockyer Valley. The Macintyre and Moonie rivers in the south, and the Mary River near the Sunshine Coast, also have active warnings. In western Queensland, alerts are in place for the Warrego River at Charleville, the Bulloo River at Quilpie, and the Barcoo River at Blackall.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts a shift in weather patterns this week. Conditions are expected to return to typical spring behavior. Hot and humid days will give way to lighter afternoon showers and storms as the current system moves on.