Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has warned residents not to panic ahead of storms expected later today.

The weather bureau says thunderstorms and gusty winds are expected to cross the Darling Downs and arrive in the Brisbane area by about 4:00pm AEST.

But Ms Bligh says the storms will not be nearly as bad as those earlier in the week and she has urged residents to stay at home and listen for warnings.

"The storm is looking like it will be a strong storm but not of the magnitude that we've seen," she said this morning. However we understand how quickly that can change and we will be providing advice on a very regular basis."

The Bureau of Meterology has issued a severe weather warning for damaging wind gusts in the south-east coast district.

The bureau released its latest Brisbane forecast at 11:10am AEST.

It reads: "A mostly fine, windy day. Chance of a shower or thunderstorm this afternoon or evening. Moderate to fresh NW to W winds, with stronger gusts at times in the afternoon and evening."

Earlier the bureau said any storm cells would be fast-moving, with strong winds rather than heavy rain posing the greatest threat.

A deep low pressure system off the New South Wales coast is pushing gusty south-westerly winds across the border.

Forecaster Craig Mitchell says residents should secure their houses and stay out of the strong wind.

"This will be more in line for the higher ground and up on top of the sort of the hilltops and the ridges whereby we could be looking at potentially damaging winds of up to about say 90 to 100 kilometres per hour developing through the afternoon and into the early evening," he said.

The State Government has set up two evacuation centres in Brisbane's north-west, at The Gap State High School and the Gaythorne RSL.

Some 389 SES volunteers are working to repair storm damage from earlier in the week, including 188 who arrived from New South Wales and Victoria today.

Travis Bell from the SES says more are on standby.

"We're ready for whatever might come," he said.

There have been no plans to cancel the Rugby League World Cup final at Lang Park and the cricket Test at the Gabba.

Meanwhile, Queensland's Department of Communities says the heavy rain has been playing havoc with septic tanks in rural areas west of Brisbane.

The department's Brooke Winters says residents in Ipswich, Laidley and Rosewood are still trying to dry out their homes, and localised flooding is still affecting residents of Goodna and Bellbird Park near Ipswich.

Ms Winters says the heavy rain has caused some septic tanks to back up.

"A lot of those have been flooded and when people are using their facilities now, what's happening is that some of the sewage is actually backing up through the pipes," she said.

"People have to be very careful of that and they do have to contact council and SES to seek assistance with that."