Flash flood warnings have been issued for large parts of Queensland, with the state set to be battered by near-cyclonic winds and up to 400mm of rain in coming days.

Dangerous surf conditions are expected to develop off the Gold Coast, while the Bureau of Meteorology has warned of damaging 90-kilometre winds, large hailstones and rapid creek rises.

• In pictures: storms batter NSW, thousands in dark
• Three dead as NSW battles ‘once-in-decade storm’

The low pressure system make landfall over Maroochydore on Thursday morning, and is expected to dump up to 100mm of rain on Friday alone.

Flood warnings have been issued for catchments including the Brisbane River, Noosa, Gold Coast rivers and creeks and Logan.

The Bureau of Meteorology radar on Thursday morning.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for the Maranoa and Warrego Forecast Districts as well as the Central West.

Residents have been advised to beware of falling trees and power lines and flooded roads.

Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Jess Carey told The Courier Mail flooding would affect Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast residents but would only amount to “inconvenience flooding”.

Mr Carey said there was still a chance the system could develop into a rare east coast low, which is the same system that flooded New South Wales a fortnight ago, killing four people.

“It’s something we’re keeping an eye on,” he said.

“But one thing about east coast lows is that they can develop quite quickly.”

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said more than 30,000 sandbags would be made available to Brisbane residents.

Residents can phone the SES on 132500 for emergency repairs or requests for sandbags.

Morning Brisbane… Autumn has arrived Follow the @couriermail‘s blog for live weather updates http://t.co/x5foagJxGl pic.twitter.com/M4UcptHQYJ

— Cleo Fraser (@CleoFraser) April 29, 2015

Thought maybe Sydney weather might be better than Brisbane’s today. But no. pic.twitter.com/9IiKXDODG4

— Alicia Nally (@alicianally) April 29, 2015

With showers & heavy rainfall predicted later this week, prepare your property. Sandbags are available at our depots. http://t.co/NeAL5IUo9P — Brisbane City (@brisbanecityqld) April 29, 2015

Brisbane and approaching rain @TonyAuden with the latest on the flash flooding threat @7NewsBrisbane 6pm pic.twitter.com/IlzsRBE4oc — Peter Doherty (@PeterDoherty7) April 29, 2015