Queenslanders can expect another day of wet weather before relief arrives as ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily makes its final run through the state.
Kirrily’s remnants are moving through the southwest along the Northern Territory border on Sunday.
The Bureau of Meteorology warns of severe thunderstorms bringing heavy rain, flash flooding and damaging wind gusts in western and northwestern Queensland.
As the weather system made its way down, areas in its path could receive between 15mm and 50mm, bureau meteorologist Angus Hines said.
Across the border in the Northern Territory, eastern parts of the Barkly and Simpson districts face heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding on Sunday.
But Hines said brighter skies would come early this week when the weather system finally leaves the rain-battered sunshine state.
“On Monday, the whole system will move into northern NSW and should clear Queensland entirely through the day and not bring too much further rainfall there,” he told AAP.
It would eventually cross the coast and clear away from Australia entirely about the end of Tuesday, he said.
Despite the relief, the full extent of Kirrily’s damage may not be known for some time as regions continue to face flooding.
Most major rivers across the interior and western Queensland had some level of flooding, Hines said.
“It can take a long time, often several days if not a couple of weeks, before the flood levels will completely subside,” he said.
The Flinders River faces major flooding while moderate flooding could occur at Burketown Airstrip on Monday as floodwaters move downstream.
Roads have been cut leaving road trains idle, rail networks are affected and properties have been inundated.
Mount Isa only began restocking fresh produce on Friday night after trucks were able to access the town after being cut off for a week.
The relief might not last long as forecasters keep an eye on a tropical cyclone off the coast of New Caledonia, about 1500km from Queensland’s coast.
“We’re not forecasting it necessarily to be a direct hit on the country,” Mr Hines said.
Strong, gusty winds and possible showers and storms could hit Queensland in the second half of this week even if the system does not cross the coast.
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