Body found in floods believed to be 47-year-old Queensland man

A man has been found dead in Queensland floodwaters following a search for a swept-away car.

Police confirmed they were called to Brown Street in Nanango, south of Kingaroy, at about 5.30am today after reports a car had entered a body of water.

At about 8.15am, it was confirmed the body of a man had been found in the same area, near Sandy Creek bridge.

Flash flooding seen at Kingaroy, where police are searching for a missing driver.

Police this afternoon said the body was believed to be that of a 47-year-old Nanango man.

Divers are still searching for the vehicle.

It comes as a severe weather system is smashing into south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales, putting a 1000km stretch of coast under a hazardous surf warning and making flash flooding a distinct possibility.

An emergency alert has been issued for the South Burnett region north-west of Brisbane as flash flooding occurs.

"An Emergency Alert has been issued by South Burnett Regional Council. Flash Flooding is occurring in the South Burnett Regional Council area," Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) said.

"Council advises roads and bridges may be impacted and urges residents to stay off the roads, if possible. Remember, if it's flooded, forget it."

https://twitter.com/QldFES/status/1550228053632360449 After all the rain, Sydney roads are covered in pot holes. Cars swerve to miss a pothole in York Road, Queens Park. Photo Peter Rae. Thursday 21 July, 2022 Rain Gold Coast 22/07/22/

The heavy rain is also wreaking havoc on the Splendour In The Grass music festival in Byron Bay, where campsites have been flooded.

Senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) Christie Johnson said more flash flooding could occur after bouts of heavy rainfall were recorded overnight.

Up to 115mm has fallen since 9am yesterday at Maleny and just over 50mm in Tallebudgera.

"At this stage we're assessing the need for any warnings for river rises, but there's a lot of water on the road," Johnson said.

"We're really asking people to take care as they travel as well and, of course, never drive through floodwaters."

The severe weather is being caused by an east coast low swirling off Queensland.

Hazardous surf warnings stretch from Fraser Island in Queensland down into the Hunter Coast in NSW as an east coast low swirls offshore.

All beaches in the Gold Coast have been closed with waves of four metres recorded this morning.

https://twitter.com/cityofgoldcoast/status/1550209012075220997

Dangerous wind warnings have also been issued for both states.

Wind gusts up to 70km/h have been recorded on the Gold Coast but the BoM warns this could reach 90km/h.

Powerful swell is pounding the coast, with waves of around four metres hitting the Gold Coast. More than 1000 kilometres of coastline is under a hazardous surf warning, stretching from Fraser Island in Queensland down into the Hunter Coast in NSW.

Johnson said the worst conditions will be felt today "during the overnight period and this morning".

"Look, it is going to be moving away, but probably not straight away," she said, adding heavy surf could continue into the weekend.

"This afternoon, we'll start to see the showers break up a little bit. Then tomorrow that low will start to move away across the Tasman Sea and we will see conditions easing over the course of tomorrow."