Thousands of residents are beginning to return home to assess damage to their homes and businesses.

Flood waters are rising in the Australian state of Queensland after heavy rainfall. The area between Townsville and Cairns in the north-east is particularly badly affected - a region that is also very popular with tourists.

Record-breaking floods across north Queensland have now turned deadly, with one woman drowning while being rescued on Sunday morning. And the floodwaters are still rising, with rain set to continue.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned that Tuesday could bring heavy rainfall between Cairns and Townsville with a severe weather warning in place between Cardwell and Yabulu.

Authorities are warning deadly flooding in northern Queensland is expected to worsen. More than a metre of rain has fallen between Townsville and Innisfail in the past five days due to a slow-moving monsoon trough.