Woman dies in raging floodwaters as deluge continues

A deadly flood could be the worst on record in a century as heavy rainfall continues to hammer the north, prompting widespread evacuations.

Floods are engulfing northeast Queensland, with residents in parts of Townsville told to evacuate following warnings water levels could reach the second storey of some buildings.

Premier David Crisafulli told reporters on Sunday a person had died at Ingham, one of the centres hit hardest by fast-rising floodwaters.

Queensland Police said the woman died when a rescue boat capsized while trying to help residents evacuate flooded areas.

The victim was not an SES member.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described her death as "heartbreaking".

"My thoughts are with the family and the entire community at this awful time," he said on X.

He said the "full support" of the Queensland and federal governments was being deployed to assist with the floods.

"I have spoken with Premier Crisafulli and reiterated we will supply whatever resources are required to deal with this event," he said.

Heavy rain fuelled by two tropical lows is impacting areas of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin and North Tropical Coast, extending from Mackay to south of Cairns.

Townsville and its surrounds have already received between 500mm and 800mm of rainfall, with more predicted in coming days.

The city's airport has been closed.

A further 175mm of rain in three hours lashed Paluma, between Ingham and Townsville, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning on Sunday that intense rainfall could lead to life-threatening flash flooding.

Emergency warnings are in place for six Townsville suburbs in the locally named "black zone", with residents told to leave.

Mr Crisafulli warned residents not to be complacent.

"There is more rain to come, and there is the prospect of record rainfalls ? I'm just asking people, just take the precautions, prepare for the worst, listen to the advice," he said.

The wild weather, which has also brought high winds, has been described by authorities as a once-in-a-century event.

Major flood warnings have been issued for the Horton, Herbert, Ross, and Bohle rivers, with the Herbert nearing a 1967 record of 15.2 metres.

"It's the highest (flood levels) we've seen in 33 years," Hinchinbrook Shire councillor Donna Marbelli, who lives in the Lower Herbert area, told AAP.

Swift water rescue crews, including water police, SES and defence personnel, have been deployed but power outages and road closures have added challenges.

Ongoing emergency warnings are in place for the Hinchinbrook Shire.

Seven-day rainfall totals of more than 900mm have hammered the north tropical coast, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

"We could even be talking about places in excess of one metre over the next few days," senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said.

"That is an incredible amount of rainfall."

The federal and state governments have activated personal hardship assistance for impacted residents.

The Insurance Council of Australia declared the North Queensland floods and storms a "significant event".

Townsville experienced its largest rainfall weather event in 120 years in January and February 2019.

About 3300 homes were damaged by floodwaters and about 1500 homes rendered uninhabitable.

Local worker Matthew James said he had seen first-hand how much damage torrential rain could produce.

"I still now am seeing places that have either just finished being repaired or completely refurbished after the 2019 floods," he told AAP.

"So you can imagine if you lived in one of those houses that flooded, you'd probably be thinking now you might be in trouble."