The weather bureau on Monday warned of intense rainfall that might lead to "dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding and damaging winds" as slow-moving storm cells moved across central and southern Queensland.
It issued the severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett, Darling Downs and Granite Belt and Southeast Coast.
The town of Kingaroy recorded 82mm of rain in an hour and went on to record more than 140mm.
Police and the South Burnett council issued a watch and act alert for residents as flash flooding swamped areas in and around the town.
Firefighters rescued a driver whose car became trapped in floodwaters on a road outside Kingaroy.
The Queensland Fire Department said crews used a rope to bring the person to safety on Monday night.
Parts of the Darling Downs, west of Brisbane, also recorded intense falls, including up to 75mm around Toowoomba and 68mm in Dalby over a two-hour period.
More showers and possible storms are forecast for the affected regions on Tuesday.
The expected rain was enough to spur the southeast's dam operator to warn of possible flood releases in two major reservoirs - Wivenhoe and Somerset - in the next couple of days.
"The Flood Operations Centre is closely monitoring dam levels, rainfall and inflows into the dams," Seqwater said in a statement.
"Several ungated dams are spilling excess water. Please stay away from any fast-flowing or deep water near waterways downstream of the dams."
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