A map released by Brisbane City Council late on Tuesday showing areas expected to be inundated, based on a discharge of 12,000 cubic metres per second from the Brisbane River, predicted for early Thursday morning. See the full size here. However, since then authorities have updated their modelling. Brisbane City Council has released a new flood map showing the likely affected areas, with as much as 12,000 cubic metres of water expected to be flowing out of the Brisbane River per second on Thursday at 3am. Premier Anna Bligh now says up to 40,000 homes could be affected. While police advised there were no forced evacuations in the CBD, numerous major employers such as government departments, Telstra, Myer and David Jones all advised workers to go home. Throughout the early afternoon, roads out of the city were logjammed and public transport crowded as workers sought to return to their homes.

Bottled water almost sold out at Woolworths at Garden City at 3pm today. Credit:Marissa Calligeros Telstra spokeswoman Elouise Campion was among the evacuees who left the company’s headquarters in George Street, close to the banks of the swelling Brisbane River. ‘‘It’s just a mass exodus from the Brisbane CBD,’’ Ms Campion said from her home in Brisbane’s north. Crowds gather in Brisbane's Central Station in a bid to flee the CBD. Credit:Amelia Bentley ‘‘It’s actually scary - it’s not something I’ve seen here."

Her husband also left work and rushed to their local supermarket which was inundated by shoppers stocking up on supplies. What we’ve seen today is a fair bit of panic ‘‘There’s no bread, there’s no D batteries and the local Coles is packed,’’ Ms Campion said. --------------

Send your flood photos to scoop@brisbanetimes.com.au or 0414 284 637

-------------- Deputy Mayor Graham Quirk called for residents to remain clear-headed.

‘‘People need to be sensible and not panic, but they need to be prepared," Cr Quirk said. "What we’ve seen today is a fair bit of panic. We’ve had a significant departure of people from the CBD going back to their homes.”



An evacuation centre has been set up at the RNA Showgrounds at Bowen Hills for residents affected by floods. A Brisbane City Council statement said the centre had been set up for those who wanted to evacuate of their own accord and could not be accommodated with family or friends. Residents were advised to take their own pillows and sheets, medication, important documents and spare clothing. Pets were unable to be accommodated at the evacuation centre, council said. LIST: Brisbane suburbs under threat A number of buildings in the CBD and Fortitude Valley were self-evacuated, with Eagle Street at the pier now under water, according to police.

At South Bank, the Brisbane River has broken its banks, with water lapping across the riverside boardwalks in front of the State Library and Performing Arts Centre and CityCat stops underwater. Ian Mitchell walked from his South Brisbane home to have a look at the swollen river. “I came about midday but now I think it’s risen about 200 or 300 millimetres,” he said. In the Queen Street Mall, most shops are closed, including the Myer Centre. Some have displayed signs alerting customers they have shut their doors due to the floods. Broadway On the Mall, Myer and Hungary Jacks have also pulled their shutters down.

West End residents have been urged to move to higher ground, while the river has also reportedly breached its banks at New Farm and Auchenflower. North of the city, Caboolture has been totally isolated while Strathpine residents are also being told to make for higher ground. Roads are crowded and thousands of people are flocking to use public transport as the CBD empties. Brisbane Airport remains open. There have been reports that buildings in the neighbouring suburb of Pinkenba are taking water and residents have been urged to seek higher ground. Earlier today, the gates were thrown open to commuters at Brisbane's Central Station.

Translink spokesperson Andrew Berkman asked customers to be patient throughout the afternoon peak. “The weather and associated flooding has impacted on all modes of public transport, with bus, ferry and train services all impacted to varying degrees,” Mr Berkman said.



He directed travellers to the Translink website for up-to-date travel information. Police urged motorists to show caution and drive to the conditions. "We urge people to plan their journey home carefully, and to leave plenty of time to get home before water cuts off a number roads in low-lying areas," a police alert said. Susan MacDonald, who was waiting for a train to get to her house in Middle Park in Brisbane’s west, said her entire office was ordered to go home.

"Our office is down at Eagle Street; we can see the river coming up," she said. Public service employees in Brisbane have been granted special leave to return home if they have concern about their properties. The Riverwalk in the city has been shut off and the Powerhouse in New Farm has been closed. Businesses along Coronation Drive have also been evacuated. Staff at Jellyfish restaurant and Boardwalk Bar and Bistro were pulling furniture and electrical appliances out of their restaurants on Eagle Street Pier this morning as they watched the river level rise. The Breakfast Creek Hotel has closed, as was Palace Cinemas Centro. The University of Queensland campus at Gatton has been completely cut off by floods, while low-lying parts of the St Lucia campus have been evacuated. All classes have been cancelled for the next two days.

West End Police have urged all residents who live, or are currently, near the Brisbane River at West End to move to safer areas. "The Brisbane River has risen and we are starting to see the water enter streets in the low lying areas of West End," police said. A number of roads in the area are blocked as residents attempt to leave the suburb. 'Wall of water' heading for Wivenhoe Dam



Authorities are conducting new modelling to see what the wall of water ripping through the Lockyer Valley will mean for Wivenhoe Dam, Premier Anna Bligh said this morning.

Much of the deluge that fell in the Toowoomba region and is now ripping a path of devastation in the Lockyer Valley will move into the catchment of the Wivenhoe Dam system that feeds Brisbane. Ms Bligh warned large releases of water would be required from Wivenhoe Dam as a result of higher-than-expected inflows, with water then set to flow through the Brisbane River. The Premier said authorities must continue to ensure the dam functioned properly. "Releases from Wivenhoe are not optional, there is no discretion here," she said. Ms Bligh said flood modelling and dam operations were continually being reviewed.

"It is a constantly changing situation," she said.



More severe weather for Brisbane



Meanwhile, a severe weather warning has been issued for much of south-east Queensland, including Brisbane and the south-east coast, Darling Downs and the Granite Belt south-east of Dalby to Goondiwindi.



The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of heavy rainfall causing localised flash flooding and worsening the existing river flood situation.



Thousands of Brisbane properties at risk



Eight thousand Brisbane properties could be at risk of further flooding tomorrow, while 400 streets may also be affected in some way, according to Brisbane City Council forecasts issued yesterday.



Authorities say Wivenhoe Dam, built partly as a flood mitigation strategy after the 1974 flood, was all that stood in the way of a repeat of the devastating event. Last night, as Queensland's flood crisis took a dramatic and deadly turn for the worse, Brisbane City Council released a list of suburbs in the state capital where properties were likely to be inundated tomorrow. Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said the Brisbane River could rise by up to half a metre more than it did yesterday, due to a combination of high tides, heavy rainfall and necessary releases from the rapidly filling Wivenhoe Dam. The council identified 455 properties that would experience some flooding tomorrow, at least 221 of which were homes and businesses. These high-risk properties include residential and business properties in Albion, Auchenflower, Brisbane City, Bowen Hills, Bulimba, Fortitude Valley, Graceville, Hemmant, Indooroopilly, Kangaroo Point, Lytton, Milton, New Farm, Newstead, Norman Park, Oxley, Pinkenba, Rocklea, Sherwood, Tennyson, Wacol, Windsor and Yeronga.

A spokeswoman said the council's modelling had also identified an additional 7731 properties that may possibly see some flooding either on the land or outside the property, depending on the severity of flooding. More than 400 streets would be affected by flooding in some way tomorrow, she said. The council has dispatched seven rapid response group teams to doorknock and letterbox drop details to the 221 most-at-risk homes and businesses. Brisbane's Local Disaster Co-ordination Centre has been activated and tens of thousands of sandbags are being made available at council depots in Darra, Morningside, Zillmere and Newmarket. For emergency flood assistance, phone the SES on 132 500. For life-threatening emergencies phone 000.

- with AAP Loading Follow Environment on Twitter

