Residents around the northern NSW town of Murwillumbah have been given the all clear and will be able to stay in their homes after the threat of flooding receded.
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But the rains that have lashed the state all week are expected to continue for days.
Locals in Tumbulgum, Condong and surrounding areas faced the prospect of evacuating for a second time in three days, after the State Emergency Service told them on Thursday to be prepared to leave.
Some residents had evacuated on Tuesday and were only permitted to return home on Wednesday evening.
They avoided a repeat when the heaviest rainfalls fell on the coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology downgraded its warnings for the Tweed River on Thursday afternoon, saying it was expected to remain below the minor flood level.
Severe thunderstorms and large hailstones are likely to hit parts of the Hunter, mid-north coast and northern rivers on Thursday afternoon.
Just over the border on the Gold Coast, all beaches are closed as council workers work to clear debris that has washed up.
Their efforts are likely to be hampered by a severe thunderstorm due to hit Coolangatta.
Heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding is likely, the BOM says.
The Gold Coast's Tallebudgera Creek has been drenched, with 190mm rain since Friday morning.
Parts of the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields should also be on alert, with BOM triggering an initial flood warning for rivers on the Gold Coast.
Minor flooding is occurring in the Pimpama, Nerang and Coomera Rivers, as well as the Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creeks.
Further river rises are expected as rainfall continues on Thursday and Friday.
Other parts of central and eastern Queensland face damaging winds and heavy rainfall on Thursday afternoon.
The forecast comes after a grazier was found dead inside his vehicle by emergency services in Queensland's Southern Downs just after midnight.
Police say the 69-year-old Killarney man was moving cattle to higher ground at a property along the Condamine River when flash flooding washed his car away about 8pm on Wednesday.
Almost all of NSW was hit by severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall on Wednesday.
Lismore in northern NSW was drenched, copping more than 120mm of rain in just three hours.
There was flash flooding in the town's CBD and minor flooding of the Wilsons River, prompting 136 calls for help and 15 flood rescues, SES Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns said.
"That was caused by a number of showers and thunderstorms that just kept targeting the one place - we call this a train of storms," meteorologist Helen Kirkup said.
A flood watch is still current for Gravesend, east of Moree.
Moderate flooding is expected there, and major flooding downstream at Yarraman Bridge.
Minor flooding is also possible along the Mehi River at Moree on Saturday.
A minor flood warning remains for the Wilson river, although levels are falling.
Further south, river levels at Coraki and Bungawalbin peaked overnight, but minor flooding remains.
Coutts Crossing near Grafton is also flooded. The Orara River peaked late on Wednesday night, and is expected to stay at a moderate flood level until late Friday.
More storms and rain are forecast for the coming days, Ms Kirkup said.
"We will see severe thunderstorms in a fairly broad region which does include Sydney, the Blue Mountains, and the central west," she said.
"We could get some intense rainfall from this, and we could also potentially get into damaging winds or hail."
"Those northern rivers, north coast, and northern tableland areas will continue to see thunderstorms (but) tomorrow, they're less likely candidates for them to be severe."
Australian Associated Press
