Warnings for heavy rainfall and flooding were issued for the Queensland Central Coast and Whitsundays region today, as the Bureau of Meteorology monitors a low pressure system that is affecting the state.

Heavy rainfall has impacted Queensland’s central coast over the past few days with the latest warning covering an area between St Lawrence and Ayr as well as the adjacent land areas including Mackay, Proserpine and Bowen.

“This is for heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding and cause significant damage to properties, homes and businesses,” the bureau says in a video update. “Within this warning area we could also see localised intense rainfall, which is even higher rainfall rates in a short space of time.”

Many catchments in northern and central Queensland are experiencing minor to major flooding, with catchments saturated. Dangerous flash flooding remains possible, particularly around the coast and ranges north of Mackay to Nebo.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said this morning that in the past 24 hours there had been more than 90 SES requests for assistance, mainly for sandbagging and leaking roofs.

Jubilee Pocket near Airlie Beach received 392mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am yesterday while Finch Hatton received 360mm in the 24 hours to 9am today. The bureau warned that six-hourly totals between 200-250mm remain possible, particularly about the coast and ranges north of Mackay to around Nebo.

“We’re expecting further totals in the triple digits, which will take our event totals well above one metre,” the bureau says.

The bureau also said today that the La Nina event, which has fuelled flooding in eastern Australia, has continued to weaken from its peak in spring last year, but it remains an influence.

“Though ocean temperatures have warmed in recent weeks, atmospheric indicators are largely unchanged and remain at La Nina levels,” it says. “La Nina typically increases the chance of above average rainfall for northern and eastern Australia during summer.”

The latest Queensland torrential rainfall follows vast flooding across northern WA earlier this month after the remnants of cyclone Ellie lingered over the Fitzroy River catchment for an extended period.

The river reached record flood levels at Fitzroy Crossing, leading to the evacuation of residents, the isolation of regional Indigenous communities and the destruction of critical road and bridge infrastructure.

The state government Insurance Commission of Western Australia says as the situation stabilises and access is available, claims are expected from agencies in Fitzroy Crossing and smaller Kimberley communities, while assessments for damage to schools affected in the Broome district have begun, including residential schools catering for students from remote areas.

Private insurers are expecting to receive only a small number of claims from the region.

IAG said it had received 16 claims from the Kimberley region, while it has also received 109 claims since December 1 following SA flooding along the Murray River.

Broome Insurance Brokers Director David Keys said Broome had not received the level of rainfall experienced at Fitzroy Crossing, while tourism business impacts would be lessened given the time of year.