ALL south-east Queensland schools have been closed as torrential rain buckets the south east.
Government officials announced about 7.30am that state, Catholic and independent schools from Agnes Water to the NSW border would be closed for the day.
Parents have been asked to fetch children early, if they are already at school while city commuters are facing a slow trip from the Redlands.
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said flash flooding was occurring across the south-east and schools would close as a precaution.
"This weather will intensify throughout the course of the day, the thing we don't want is for parents and children to be on the road in 90 km/h wind gusts or heavy rainfall," she said.
Education director-general Jim Watterson said students who had already been dropped off would be cared for, however were urged parents to make arrangements to pick up them up early.
"All students will be cared for if they have been dropped off but we do expect conditions to worsen during the day so we expect all parents to pick up their children earlier in the day," he said.
Police Commissioner Ian Stewart urged employers to consider sending home staff early as the weather worsened.
"We can't afford to have young, inexperienced children walking home when there could be flash flooding."
Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said south-east residents should take precautions ahead of flash flooding expected to intensify by this afternoon.
"The clear message from us today, do not underestimate the power and potential of this rainfall," he said.
As ex-Cyclone Debbie tracks south, the tropical low is expected to cross the Darling Downs into Brisbane and the Gold Coast by this evening.
The Weather Bureau has revised its rainfall for south-east Queensland, with widespread totals of about 200mm expected across the south east over the next 24 hours.
Storms also are forecast.