Large parts of Queensland are facing another severe weather event, with authorities urging residents to prepare for destructive and gale force winds and widespread rainfall over the coming days.
Wild winds and dangerous surf warnings are in place for much of Queensland's coastline, as an east coast low develops off the coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said the warnings stretch from Townsville in the state's north to the New South Wales border, with the system set to "primarily" cause wave and wind impacts to coastal areas.
Senior meteorologist David Grant said damaging wind gusts of up to 90 kilometres per hour and wave heights of up to 4 metres are forecast in the south east tomorrow and early on Saturday.
"They'll be very localised and very much confined to the coastline south of about K'gari Fraser Island down to the Queensland-NSW border," Mr Grant said.
"Dangerous surf conditions are expected to cause localised damage and coastal erosion at beaches over the next few days.
"The biggest hazardous risk during the course of this event will be the wave impacts that we see along the south-east Queensland coast.
"Wave heights are expected to peak on either Friday or Saturday," he said.
Mr Grant said low-lying areas along the beachfront could see coastal erosion, including the Currumbin car park on the southern Gold Coast, and parts of Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, but "anywhere south of K'gari Fraser Island down to the NSW border" was at risk.
A hazardous surf warning is in place for the Fraser Island coast and Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast waters.
'Unseasonable' rainfall likely
Mr Grant said localised heavy rainfall was possible in central, southern and south-east Queensland today and tomorrow.
He said there was potential for some isolated areas to receive up to 100 millimetres, with the heaviest totals expected tomorrow.
"This is unseasonable rainfall," he said.
"For example, Brisbane only experiences, during the course of July, average rainfall of around 27 millimetres but in this event, many locations may receive between 25 to 50 millimetres.
"On a local scale, we may see some locations get up to 50 to 100 [millimetres].
"July is usually one of the dry months for many locations and because this is an unseasonable rain event … some locations may experience their monthly rainfall within the course of just the next couple of days."
Flood watch 'not expected'
Mr Grant said riverine and flash flooding is unlikely.
"At this stage a flood watch is not expected to be issued for this event, largely we're not expecting any significant flash flooding or riverine flooding across the state."
"This will be regularly reviewed over the next day or two," he said.
Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan said the BOM, police and emergency services were closely monitoring the developing weather event.
"There's not expected to be intense heavy rain across the region but there are some impacts associated with waves, dangerous surf, coastal erosion and strong winds," Mr Ryan said.
"The message for Queenslanders is … listen to the [weather] bureau, get your information from the bureau about possible weather impacts."
He urged to avoid going to the beach or out on the water over the coming days.
"If you live in a coastal area that might be impacted, be aware that there might be a significant risk of coastal erosion in some places so make the preparations and be informed.
"This is a weather event that the bureau are keeping a close eye on, all of our emergency services and police are engaged with the necessary preparations that are required for a weather event of this nature," he said.
'Today is the day' to prepare
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Commissioner Greg Leach said rescue crews were ready to respond across the state.
"QFES stands ready, our SES and fire and rescue service is ready to assist communities that may be impacted by this event," Commissioner Leach said.
"We've seen significant rainfall around Charleville this morning for example, I think they've had something like 25 millimetres of rain.
"Whilst the effects of this will be predominantly coastal, there is the possibility that we will see elevated wind speeds inland, potentially gusts of up to 90 kilometres per hour."
Commissioner Leach said "today is the day" for south-east Queensland residents to prepare.
"We suggest you secure any loose items and think about large trees around your property … the soil is wet and with strong winds, there's the possibility that trees could come down."
Police are urging boaties to stay out of the water and rock fishers should avoid coastal rock platforms.
The windy conditions will be felt on Norfolk and Lord Howe islands as the system moves offshore on Saturday.
"We're expecting the peak in all the wave conditions to be on Friday and Saturday with the system moving offshore on Saturday, taking all the weather and the hazardous conditions with it," Mr Grant said.
