Central and north Queensland are braced for up to 400 millimetres rain in the next 24 hours as a slow-moving weather system pummels the coastline.

Heavy rainfall and flash flooding are expected to lash the region through the day, with potential six-hourly rainfall totals of 200 to 250mm.

“It really turns it on sometimes up north and we’ve got a really humid tropical air mass up there at the moment and a trough and all the areas sort of feeding into that trough,” Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Steve Hadley told ABC radio.

It follows days of wet weather with significant falls of 317mm at Jubilee Pocket, 299mm at Peter Faust Dam, 252mm at Preston, 237mm at Bowen and 230mm at Proserpine.

Three women rescued after becoming stranded in floodwaters are recovering from the ordeal.

The women are being treated at Proserpine Hospital after they were found clinging to a tree in Palm Grove, north of Mackay, on Sunday afternoon.

The Bureau of Meteorology warns locally intense falls could lead to flash flooding over southern parts of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin districts.

Rain across the Central Coast and Whitsundays is likely to continue into Monday night.

A broad flood watch and multiple flood warnings are current for the area covered by the severe weather warning.

“Be aware that there is some flooding around over the next few days and that heavy rainfall as well,” Mr Hadley said.

“It should ease off towards the middle of the week.”

Although widespread heavy rain has eased north of Ayr, severe thunderstorms remain possible across the northeast tropics, including the Townsville area, the BOM said on Sunday.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services are urging residents to keep up to date with warnings and alerts and not to attempt to drive through floodwaters.

QFES received 72 calls for help in the 24 hours to 9am on Sunday.

Half related to flooding and the rest were for structural issues or trees down, a spokesman said.

– AAP