A man has died in south-east Queensland after being swept away in a 1,000km storm that continues to batter the state.
Police found her body in Sandy Creek in Nanango, where QFES has issued an emergency alert for the entire South Burnett Regional Council due to flash flooding.
Police and QFES workers had been searching for a missing man who was swept away in his car by the strong waters.
The vehicle was washed away in floodwaters along Brown St at around 5.30am, and the man’s body was discovered at 8.15am.
Police have not yet formally identified the body, although they believe it to be that of a 47-year-old Nanango man.
It comes as parts of Queensland are facing severe weather from an east coast low, with waves of 8m recorded overnight and gale-force winds of 110km/h possible.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued severe weather warnings for south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales, putting a 1,000km stretch of coastline under a dangerous surf warning.
BOM has issued a minor flood warning from the Stanley River to Somerset Dam.
The River Stanley at Woodford is likely to reach minor flood stage (5m) during Friday afternoon, with a total of up to 120mm of rain falling in the area since 9am on Thursday.
Isolated areas of flooding are expected along the Brisbane River to Wivenhoe Dam.
A gale warning is in place for waters off Hervey Bay, the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay and the Gold Coast, while a gale force wind warning has been issued for the Capricornia Coast and the Fraser Island.
BOM winds of around 90 km/h are forecast around Fraser Island, Stradbroke and Moreton Islands and exposed parts of the Sunshine Coast, although maximum gusts on Fraser Island may reach 110 km/ha in the afternoon.
It occurs when strong surf batters the Queensland coast, prompting fears of localized damage and coastal erosion.
Waves in excess of 8m were reported in Brisbane and Mooloolaba in the early hours of Friday morning, with average wave heights of more than 4m expected throughout the day.
A dangerous surf warning is in place for waters off the coast of Fraser Island, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.
Sky News meteorologist Alison Osborne said authorities were telling Queenslanders to postpone any planned trips to the beach.
“The advice is, especially if you live on the more exposed parts of the coast, from around Coffs Harbor to Fraser Island, to avoid the beaches. There is a very high risk of coastal erosion, especially in these areas exposed in the south,” he said.
“Twenty-five to 50 mm (of rain) from Fraser Island to Moreton Island, there’s a risk of damaging winds and coastal erosion from massive waves. We’re talking 5, 6 to 7m in the surf zone and that will last the rest of today.
“The forecast shows, however, that the larger swell front will move away and towards the end of the weekend we should start to see conditions improve rapidly.”
The low east coast is also affecting parts of NSW, with a gale warning issued for the Byron coast and a high wind warning for the Coffs and Macquarie coasts.
A dangerous surf warning is also in place for the Byron and Coffs coast.
Damaging surf with waves in excess of 5m is expected at Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, Ballina and Brunswick Heads later on Friday.
Surf Life Saving Australia has advised people to stay out of the water and well away from areas exposed to the surf.
The public has been told to regularly check their property for seawater erosion or flooding and to take goods and electrical items if necessary.
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