Heavy deluge to hit north Queensland

(AAP) - A tropical low in the Coral Sea is not expected to intensify into a cyclone but will dump more heavy rain on north Queensland, the weather bureau says.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Gordon Banks told AAP the low would most likely cross Cape York Peninsula on Sunday and move southwest into the Channel Country south of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Mr Banks said the Channel Country could face severe flooding and rain as heavy as 300mm in 24 hours was possible.
"There's every likelihood we'll be issuing a severe weather warning (on Sunday)," Mr Banks said.
"There has been heavy rain in the Channel Country in the past couple of weeks.
"It's not atypical for this region to receive more than 100mm of rain in a day during this time but we're concerned about falls of more than 200mm or 300mm."
Already floodwaters have cut thoroughfares in and out of the region's two main centres, Birdsville and Bedourie.
Emergency Management Queensland spokesman Elliott Dunn said they could be isolated for several weeks.
"In the last two days they would have exceeded their annual rainfall of around 200mm in a matter of 48 hours," Mr Dunn told AAP.
"The Diamantina Shire is very proactive. Everything is stocked up.
"They normally have enough food to go for a month but we have measures in place to resupply them as soon as they want it."
Meanwhile, three men have survived a dramatic night battling floodwaters at Emerald Falls, near Mareeba, west of Cairns.
One of the men was swept downstream but managed to cling to a tree while the other two came to his rescue.
All three washed up on the other side of the creek, stranded from their vehicles and from two other mates who raised the alarm.
However, the trio were found safe and well after they crossed the creek when floodwaters dropped dramatically on Saturday morning.