Heavy rain is lashing Queensland's southeast, with huge falls up to 300mm forecast in the next 24 hours.
Since 9am, close to 100mm of rain has fallen in parts of the Gold Coast hinterland and forecasters predict the area could cop 300mm in 24 hours - more than the average rainfall for the month.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for areas south of Brisbane on Friday morning.
Heavy rain set in overnight and is expected to stay until Saturday morning in areas including the Gold Coast, Coolangatta, Boonah, Beaudesert, Logan, Springbrook and Beenleigh.
Conditions are expected to ease further on Sunday.
"There'll be a whole month of rain in four short days," Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate told reporters on Friday.
He said the city was in good shape to deal with the rain and preparations for the April 4-15 Commonwealth Games would not be set back.
"When you look at the overall allowance for wet weather for the Comm Games, we are well ahead. We'll be fine. We're on schedule. We've already factored in wet weather," Mr Tate said.
The Bureau has also issued a flood watch for coastal catchments from Maryborough to Caboolture, and that could be extended south towards Brisbane.
On the Sunshine Coast, a man has been taken to hospital after being pulled from a flooded creek in Maleny.
Minor flood warnings are in place for communities along the upper Dawson and upper Mary rivers.
In Brisbane, more than 110mm fell in Mt Gravatt in the 24 hours until Friday morning as southern suburbs bore the brunt of the rain.
Hydrologists are keeping an eye on river catchments in the southeast to determine if the flood watch needs to be extended.
Police are urging motorists to stay well away from flooded roads after a number of drivers had to be rescued in the Wide Bay region on Thursday.
