INGHAM is isolated with floodwaters cutting the Bruce Highway both north and south of the town.
Charters Towers is also expected to be cut off from Townsville, with Macrossan Bridge on the Flinders Highway at Sellheim expected to close this afternoon and remain cut for some time as the Burdekin River rises.
The Herbert district has copped a lashing in the wake of ex-tropical cyclone Imogen, with the low pressure system sitting just of the coast of Ingham on Wednesday morning.
Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Kimba Wong said Ingham Pump Station had received 298mm in the 24 hours to 9am Wednesday, with 121mm of that falling in just one hour to 7am.
Halifax received 285mm in the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday, while further north, Clump Point received 264mm and Bingil Bay 224mm.
The heavy rain caused flash flooding around Ingham, leaving the towns of Lucinda, Taylors Beach and Halifax isolated.
Hinchinbrook Mayor Ramon Jayo said the Bruce Highway was cut at the Seymour River north of Ingham.
He said road closures were also put in place south of the town at Andy's Roadhouse at 10am today, while cars were being turned around at Frosty Mango.
It comes after a car was inundated on Townsville Road, opposite Tyto Wetlands earlier this morning, while emergency service vehicles were towing other cars to safety.
Cr Jayo said over 150mm of rain had fallen in just one hour in parts of Ingham this morning.
"We've been having very heavy falls since 9am yesterday of between three or four inches in the catchments, and there's still all of that water that's got to come down.
"While we have seen peaks in the upper reaches, we are expecting small renewed rises as the water makes its way down to the Lower Herbert because of the continuous heavy downfalls."
Cr Jayo said there was localised flooding in the Lower Herbert, which alongside Lucinda, Taylors Beach and Halifax remained totally isolated from the rest of the district.
"At the moment we are watching, monitoring and it wait and see mod.
"There is no immediate risk of any residential properties succumbing to inundation though there is significant water throughout the cane paddocks, and cane fields are totally saturated."
A major flood warning was in place for the Upper Burdekin and Herbert Rivers.
"There was quite intense rainfall and a severe weather warning is in place from Ingham to Bowen," Ms Wong said.
She said six-hourly rainfall totals of between 150-200mm between Ingham and Ayr were possible throughout Wednesday.
Ms Wong said rainfall rates were expected to ease throughout Wednesday, with heavier falls later in the week likely to be isolated and associated with thunderstorms.
