Flood warnings have just been issued for areas south of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The weather system is expected to remain inland for three to four days although it has had no impact on Katherine yet.

There are high hopes the system will lead to large falls in the drought hit areas of the Barkly.

A severe weather warning has been issued at 1pm today by the bureau saying severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Borroloola, Alpurrurulam, McArthur River, Renner Springs, Mallapunyah, Brunette Downs and Cresswell Downs.

Three day rainfall totals from today of 200-300 mm are expected for the Nicholson and Georgina rivers, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

Strong river rises and widespread areas of inundation are expected from Saturday and into early next week. Road conditions in many areas are expected to worsen and some communities may become inaccessible.

Drenching rain across parts of North Queensland has saturated some parched western properties, while cutting the Flinders Highway between Torrens Creek and Prairie.

And more is set to come over the weekend as a monsoon low south of Katherine continues to drag moisture across Central Queensland.

While coastal areas received the heaviest falls in the 24 hours to 9am, with Lucinda recording 93mm, handy falls have also been recorded inland.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Peter Markworth said areas to the north of Hughenden had received the highest totals inland, with Gregory Springs and Glendower both recording 63mm.

"It was patchy in areas with some spots around there getting around 50mm," Mr Markworth said.

"For the Gulf Country and toward Mount Isa there were a few pockets from the Gulf coast near Burketown that saw just over 30mm, which was definitely good for them, including Cloncurry which got 33mm."

Julia Creek received little with just 5.8mm, while Charters Towers itself was below 5mm.

However, heavier rain was recorded near Torrens and Prairie, with the Flinders Highway cut due to flash flooding this morning at Bullock Creek. It has since opened with caution, while flood water was also be impacting Glentor Prairie Road.

Among those to benefit from the inland falls was the McNamara family at Delbessie Station, 35km north of Hughenden.

Cecilia McNamara said they had received 84mm of rain and it looked like more was on the way.

"It was the first rain that we've had since the middle of last year and it lasted for a few hours and didn't run away," Mrs McNamara said.

"I think the forecast is for a monsoon for Saturday and Sunday and it's usually spot on here.

"It will start everything growing, it has been very beneficial, a good three inches of great soaking rain."

The rain also nudged further south earlier this week, with Brendon and Rhiannon Finger, Telarah, Clermont, received 55mm of rain over the seven days until Tuesday.

Mr Markworth said similar conditions were forecast for the region over the weekend.

"The forecast is pretty similar, if not getting a bit more active over the coming days for the Gulf Country, heading down into Mount Isa and the north west and central west

"We are seeing a high chance of rainfall, with showers and storms across most regions and isolated potentially heavy falls with severe storms probably from Cooktown down to Longreach."

Mr Markworth said Charters Towers had the chance of seeing heavy rainfall over the weekend, particularly on Saturday.

- with North Queensland Register.