A town in Queensland has experienced its wettest day in over a century after ex-tropical cyclone Koji unleashed more than 200mm of rain, causing flash floods in the region.
Initially a tropical cyclone, the weather system was downgraded to a tropical low after making landfall between Ayr and Bowen yesterday morning. It is currently moving over the Central Highlands and Coalfield areas.
Although the tropical low is weakening as it moves slowly northwest across the land, it continues to affect towns in its path.
A severe weather warning has been issued for Capricornia and parts of the Central Coast and Whitsundays, Central Highlands and Coalfields, and Central West Forecast Districts, stretching between Mackay and Rockhampton.
Authorities have issued an emergency warning for flash flooding in Clermont, where more than 200mm of rain was recorded in the 24 hours leading up to 9 a.m. today.
The Bureau of Meteorology reports that this marks Clermont’s wettest day since 1916.
Clermont residents have been told to monitor conditions and prepare to move to higher ground. 
Local teacher Molly Bradshaw had floodwater lapping at her front gate as it claimed more of the town.
Within the hour, she was forced to leave for higher ground.
“It is showing no sign of stopping at the moment,” she told 9News.
Authorities have also issued an emergency warning for increased rainfall and possible flash flooding for the Rubyvale and Sapphire areas.
Premier David Crisafulli told Today he was proud of how the state had responded to the ex-cyclone, but insisted the danger was far from over.
“Our message remains that there is that risk of heavy rainfall, and that’s always been what we’ve consistently said,” he said.
“There are the real risk of having those really heavy rains, which could lead to flooding because those catchments are very full.”
There have been no fatalities from the weekend’s storms, but more than 40,000 livestock and cattle are estimated to have perished due to the weather.
A large rescue took place at Greenacre, near Rockhampton, where a woman, her two children and two dogs were caught in their car.
Drinking water in some areas, including the Pioneer Valley region, has been impacted, with residents told to use their own clean containers to access clean water from temporary tankers.
More than 22,000 properties were without power last night, but Ergon has restored power to 90 per cent of those homes and businesses.
”That is now down to 2500,” Crisafulli said.
“That doesn’t happen by magic. That happens because people work through the night and resources are on the ground,” he said.
The premier urged Queenslanders to remain vigilant over the next couple of days: “Queenslanders know how to handle heavy rain, we are a very disaster-resilient state, we’ll just continue to put out that messaging that there is that risk in the next 24-48 hours of some really significant rainfall in patches.
“If people do the right thing and make their preparations, we will get through this unscathed.”
Crisafulli has also confirmed he will chair the state disaster meeting in Prosperine in the Whitsundays region, insisting people in the western parts of the state being smashed by the wild weather “will not be forgotten”.
