Heavy rain easing across south-east Queensland after rescues, school closures

Conditions forecast to moderate but emergency services remain active

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

Updated22 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources2 outlets

Floodwaters are receding across south-east Queensland after torrential rain forced multiple rescues, closed more than a dozen schools and triggered a 'prepare to leave' order in parts of Moreton Bay. The Bureau of Meteorology says the worst of the rainfall has passed, though isolated falls and riverine flooding remain a concern.

Heavy rain that lashed south-east Queensland overnight and into Thursday has begun to ease, the Bureau of Meteorology says, but the damage is still being assessed. The State Emergency Service responded to 277 call-outs between 6am and 2pm on Thursday and a further 141 between 2pm and 4am on Friday.

Two campers were winched to safety after being cut off by floodwater at Mount Barney, and a motorist was rescued from floodwater in the Lockyer Valley early Friday morning. In a dramatic incident at Morayfield, a man who drove his four-wheel drive through water on Buchanan Road was rescued by ABC reporter Will Murray and local Daniel Hainey, who swam to help after the car began sinking within seconds. "I will be going nowhere near floodwaters in my car, because to see how quickly it unfolded and see how quickly he got into a life or death situation — very, very scary," Murray said.

Moreton Bay City Council had issued a "prepare to leave" notice for Burpengary and Burpengary East with Burpengary Creek at 10 metres and rising. Police confirmed two rescues by members of the public overnight Thursday, and 67 task requests to the SES, mainly for tarping and sandbags.

Rainfall totals were extreme. Morayfield and Burpengary recorded more than 250mm over 24 hours, while Caboolture had 203mm in six hours. Mount Reservoir recorded 233mm in 12 hours with 124mm of that falling in just two hours. Roads remained closed north of Brisbane and Morayfield State High School was among those shut.

Bureau of Meteorology community information officer Daniel Hayes said conditions would continue to ease through Friday morning. "We are likely to still have fairly widespread shower and thunderstorm activity across most of Queensland throughout Friday and into the weekend, but it will be more isolated with those moderate to heavy falls," he said. A forecaster noted that Monday may bring a high-end severe thunderstorm day, with the current pattern set to persist into next week.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Residents in Burpengary and surrounding areas face ongoing flood risk, with major flooding possible if Burpengary Creek rises further.
School closures and road disruptions affect thousands, with no clear timeline for full reopening.
The rescue incidents highlight the persistent danger of driving through floodwaters.

Background

A surface trough combined with upper-level instability and a very moist environment produced intense rainfall across south-east Queensland on Wednesday night and Thursday. The Bureau of Meteorology had issued severe thunderstorm warnings for Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and surrounding areas. The region has been saturated by weeks of above-average rain, increasing the flood risk.

Key Perspectives

Bureau of Meteorology: Conditions are easing but isolated heavy falls remain possible. Riverine flooding is still a risk as catchments respond to the downpours. A forecaster flagged Monday as a potential high-end severe thunderstorm day. State Emergency Service: Crews are prioritising tarping, sandbagging and swift water rescues. Dozens of roads remain closed and residents are urged not to drive through floodwaters. Local councils: Moreton Bay City Council has advised residents in Burpengary and Burpengary East to prepare to leave, while Brisbane City Council has made sandbags available at depots.

What to Watch

Burpengary Creek levels: a further rise of 0.9 metres could trigger major flooding within 30 minutes.
Monday's potential severe thunderstorm development, which could bring renewed heavy rain.
The number of schools reopening and road recovery as waters subside.

Sources

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11 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 6 supported.

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SupportedHeavy rain is easing across south-east Queensland.Just In: “The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts conditions to continue to ease across the south-east”
Not in the sourcesFloodwaters are receding across south-east Queensland.
SupportedRain forced multiple rescues, closed more than a dozen schools and led to a prepare-to-leave notice in parts of Moreton Bay.Just In: “More than a dozen schools remain closed across south-east Queensland after heavy rain caused flash flooding and hundreds of calls for help on Thursday.”
Partly supportedThe worst of the rainfall has passed.Just In: “the widespread heavy rain was set to ease throughout Friday morning, with a reprieve for areas that had seen the heaviest falls.”
Not in the sourcesThe damage is still being assessed.
Partly supportedThe SES responded to a further 141 call-outs between 2pm and 4am Friday.Just In: “A further 141 call-outs were received between 2pm on Thursday and 4am on Friday.”
SupportedMorayfield and Burpengary recorded more than 250mm in 24 hours, and Caboolture recorded 203mm in six hours.Just In: “On Thursday, 203mm fell in six hours at Caboolture, north of Brisbane, and more than 250mm was recorded over 24 hours at Morayfield and Burpengary.”
SupportedMount Reservoir recorded 233mm in 12 hours, including 124mm in two hours.7NEWS: “Mount Reservoir receiving 233mm in 12 hours, with 124mm of that recorded in just two hours.”
SupportedMurray said, “I will be going nowhere near floodwaters in my car, because to see how quickly it unfolded and see how quickly he got into a life or death situation — very, very scary.”Just In: ““I will be going nowhere near floodwaters in my car, because to see how quickly it unfolded and see how quickly he got into a life or death situation — very, very scary,” he said.”
SupportedHayes said widespread showers and thunderstorms would continue across most of Queensland Friday and into the weekend, becoming more isolated with moderate to heavy falls.Just In: ““We are likely to still have fairly widespread shower and thunderstorm activity across most of Queensland throughout Friday and into the weekend, but it will be more isolated with those moderate to heavy falls,” he said.”
Partly supportedThe current weather pattern is set to persist into next week.7NEWS: “The forecast shows wet weather dominating the region until a shift in the weather pattern early next week, however thunderstorms are still on the cards.”