During the period 9 - 11 March 2001, thunderstorm activity brought intense rainfall to the Queensland south-east Coast district.

Subsequent heavy rain affected the Gold Coast and Logan City, with heavy rain falling over Brisbane City, producing areas of flash flooding, particularly across southern suburbs but also in the east and north. Intense rainfall was observed across the district for a duration of approximately 6 hours.

Gold Coast and Logan City: A person drowned during the early morning hours of 11 March, when the vehicle in which they were passenger was swept off a road near Logan. Many homes and businesses were damaged by flash flooding. Flooding at Beenleigh also led to four houses being inundated with sewage.

Brisbane City: A person was confirmed drowned, after being swept away by flood waters on the evening of 9 March, when vehicle in which they were passenger was washed off a road at Lawnton (in Brisbane's north). The damage inventory included hundreds of cars, many shops and offices, and up to 600 homes.

Stones Corner, a suburb in inner-eastern Brisbane, was one of the worst hit areas. Metre-deep flooding entered East's League's Club, forcing 50 patrons to be evacuated. About 30 cars were submerged in the club car park. Many houses throughout Brisbane's southern suburbs were also flooded. Over 100 homes were inundated in Wishart (southern suburb). Heavy rain downed powerlines at Annerley, Woolloongabba, Greenslopes and Holland Park. A block of flats at Greenslopes had the roof torn off. Cars that were stalled on flooded roads caused peak-hour traffic chaos. Many cars that had been left in flooded streets floated away. A car dealership in Salisbury reported damage to about 50 vehicles.

Three flights were diverted from Brisbane Airport to the Amberley RAAF Base after lights along the Brisbane runway went out (due to lightning). A house boat, moored on Norman Creek in eastern Brisbane, was damaged. The northern suburbs of McDowall, Windsor, Ferny Hills, Arana Hills and Everton Hills also recorded severe water damage. In the northern suburb of Aspley,six new cars were swept from the yard of a car dealership and into Cabbage Tree Creek and another 80 new vehicles were damaged. Flash flooding caused problems in Everton Hills near Kedron Brook.

Sunshine Coast: A person was rescued from a vehicle that was washed into a waterway. Shops in the main street of Beerwah were flooded, trees came down on powerlines and cars were swept away. Numerous traffic accidents were reported. Flash flooding was also reported near Sunrise Beach, and at Noosaville, Nambour, Eumundi and Hunchy. Powerlines were brought down at Nambour. Two homes were evacuated when it was believed that the roofs could be blown off.

Rainfall recorded during the flash flooding:

• On the Gold Coast centred around Carrara a total of 176 mm
• At Beenleigh where 317 mm was recorded at the Bowling Club
• In the northern suburbs of Brisbane where 187mm was recorded at Everton Hills
• Approximately 200 mm between Landsbrough and Nambour
• An area up to 230 mm centred between Ball Lookout and Cooroy

The Insurance Council of Australia estimated the 2001 damage at $37 million, with the 2011 estimated normalised cost of $99 million.