Drought breaks in Birdsville

Birdsville too was a sea of water after two prolonged rain events in the past few weeks.

The drought has broken in the far north east of South Australia, as floodwaters which have soaked much of Queensland during the past four days have begun flowing downstream to South Australia.

At Birdsville, 13 kilometres north of the border, more than 220 millimetres of rain in a long, steady downpour last Thursday after previous heavy rains earlier in the week of more than 160 mm.

Long time residents say it has been a long time since anyone saw rain like it.

"I've lived here for 50 years and I don't think that any of us - even going back to my grandfather - have probably seen so much rain in the one fall," said one man.

Roads have been transformed into rivers in the tiny town of Innamincka in the state's far north-east.

The weather bureau has issued a flood warning for the Warburton, Strzelecki and Cooper creeks.