Severe Storms and Rising Floods Batter Eastern Australia

Emergency services recovered a man from floodwaters and rescued stranded campers in Queensland on Monday as a massive weather system brought torrential rain and damaging winds across eastern Australia.

A fifty-seven-year-old man was found dead in a creek on the Fraser Coast after authorities responded to the scene on Monday morning.

Six campers became trapped by rising waters in the Southern Downs before rescue teams safely brought them out without injury.

The wild conditions followed days of heavy rain that triggered multiple flood warnings and forced river levels higher across the region.

Forecasters said a broad line of storms swept across western New South Wales before pushing toward the coast, bringing the threat of large hail and powerful winds.

Authorities recorded wind gusts reaching up to 100km/h in the central west of New South Wales as the system advanced.

Parts of the Sunshine Coast hinterland recorded up to 500mm of rain over the past week, leaving catchments heavily saturated.

Mayor Glen Hartwig said officials were monitoring river levels closely as waters rose faster than anticipated.

"We've seen the rivers rise a bit quicker than what was expected or anticipated," said Glen Hartwig, the Gympie Regional Council mayor.

Forecasters warned that Monday would likely represent the peak risk period for the south-east part of the state.

"There's still multiple days of storms and potentially severe storms to come, with Monday probably the peak day in terms of south-east Queensland risk," said Felim Hanniffy, a senior forecaster.

Emergency crews responded to dozens of calls for assistance, including vehicle rescues in Warwick and Rosenthal Heights.

Residents were urged to secure property, keep mobile phones charged and avoid driving through flooded roads unless necessary.

Weather officials expect the severe storm risk to begin contracting toward the center of the state by Tuesday.