Overnight a temporary repair to the Ollera Creek Bridge opened to allow freight of essential supplies into Ingham, the epicentre of the flood disaster which has been cut-off by road for almost two weeks.

The bridge, which forms part of the state’s main arterial, the Bruce Highway, was washed away by heavy rain on February 2.

Police say two men abandoned their car due to rising waters near Ollera Creek about 9.45pm yesterday and became separated.

One man in his 30s was located, the other remains missing.

Six-hourly rainfall totals between 120 to 180mm are possible today.

Isolated 24-hourly rainfall totals up to 250mm are possible, especially over the Cassowary and Townsville coasts.

A low embedded in a monsoon trough is expected to move slowly east over the Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders today.

Wet soil and swollen river catchments mean the region is more vulnerable than normal to flash flooding.