Brisbane residents woke this morning to a reprieve from the torrential rain which caused extensive flooding across South-East Queensland yesterday, but authorities have warned conditions could again deteriorate.
The south-east corner of Qld received one third of its annual rainfall in one day as more than 300mm fell over some parts of the region.
Authorities will today begin assessing the extent of the damage after the State Emergency Service received more than 1800 calls for help between 5pm and 4am.
This followed 700 calls for assistance being lodged to 6pm last night.
"The highest concentration of calls was in Brisbane with 360 requests for assistance lodged overnight," an SES spokeswoman said.
In Ipswich 321 residents required assistance, while 227 residents on the Gold Coast made calls for help.
About 3800 homes and businesses remain without power this morning, mostly located on the Gold Coast.
"The major focus of efforts today will be on the Gold Coast and Hinterland areas which have suffered extensive damage with trees uprooted due to winds gusting above 115 kilometres per hour," an Energex spokesman said.
According to Energex, 75,000 homes and businesses have been hit by power interruptions over the past 48 hours as a result of the storms.
Premier Anna Bligh will convene an emergency meeting in Brisbane today after the most extensive flooding in the region since 1974.
Two of Brisbane's three dams are overflowing, and water will have to be released from North Pine and Somerset Dam. Combined dam levels are currently at about 72 per cent.
"This is the healthiest our dams have been since about September 2002," SEQWater spokesman Mike Foster said.
Flooding rain continued overnight with 286mm falling over Kenmore Hills, 244mm at Pullenvale and 223mm at Wacol since 9am yesterday.
The heaviest falls in Brisbane were recorded in the city's north and southwest where 130mm fell at Bracken Ridge and 118mm fell at Aspley.
The rain eased temporarily this morning as the surface trough responsible for the downpour moves across into northern NSW.
However, the weather bureau has warned Brisbane is not yet in the clear with wind gusts up to 115 kilometres per hour expected in parts of the region.
"It has eased for the moment around the Brisbane and Sunshine Coast areas but the rain near the bay islands is making a move towards the city area again," Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Ben Annells said.
"I would be very cautious about writing it off at this stage.
"With the rain continuing, flooded rivers, which will peak today, will still be quite an issue."
Dangerous surf conditions and beach erosion will continue for the remainder of the week along the south-east coast, and in particular along the Gold Coast, Mr Annells said.
"As a result of high tides some inundation of low lying areas may occur today," he said.
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