The ominous storm front, stretching more than 500km across the southeast, is forecast to douse the Gold Coast, Coolangatta, Logan City, Beenleigh, Mount Tamborine and Springbrook regions on Monday and through to Tuesday.

The Bureau of Meteorology has labelled the weather event as “dangerous” for residents in those areas, adding that localised and “intense” rainfall would produce up to 250mm of rain during a six-hourly period, which could lead to “life-threatening flash flooding”.

A warning for severe thunderstorms has persisted through to the new year after homes were torn apart in the Gold Coast area in late December.

The bureau has attributed the conditions to humid, easterly winds colliding with a coastal trough overhead in South East Queensland.

Thunderstorms are likely to dominate the region for most of Monday, with a further warning for residents to be aware of possible flash flooding.

Little Nerang Dam, northwest of Springbrook, recorded a staggering 150mm of rainfall and run-off in the space of three hours before 5.30am.

A flood alert for the Nerang River, Mudgeeraba, Tallebudgera and Currumbin creeks was issued midmorning on Monday.

Up to 350mm of rain was recorded from 9am on Sunday through to Monday morning, causing river and creek levels to rise to concerning levels.

It’s been reported that holiday-makers camping near the Numinbah Valley and Natural Bridge in the Gold Coast were rescued by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service.

A QFES spokeswoman told The Courier-Mail that some campers had been stranded by floodwaters, but all had been accounted for and had been moved to an evacuation area.

While the intensity of storms has eased slightly in the Hinterland region, the bureau has warned severe conditions could redevelop.

Emergency services have urged people to stay away from stormwater drains and any fallen power lines.

The bureau said residents and travellers should never walk through or attempt to drive through flood waters.

Commuters are urged to avoid driving because of the dangerous conditions and park vehicles away from trees during severe storm events.

In the north of the state, Queenslanders are having to contend with hot and humid weather, with temperatures sitting in the low to mid 30s in Cairns and Townsville for the rest of the week.

A low-intensity and severe heatwave warnings have been issued for the western half of the stat, and an isolated extreme heatwave warning northwest of Cairns.

Based off most recent data, temperatures reached into the 97th percentile for areas close to Gladstone and Hervey Bay and the UV index sits at 14 throughout the state, which is above extreme levels.

Originally published as ‘Dangerous’: Heavy rainfall and flash flooding rips through Qld to start new year