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Tens of thousands of scared families have woken to flood waters knocking at their doors on Sunday morning. 

As the one-in-a-century flood lashes the North Queensland city of Townsville overnight, more than 500 homes were hurriedly evacuated amid fears they'd be underwater by the morning.

With waist-deep water filling the streets for the sixth consecutive day, preparations are now in place to try and save as many as 20,000 homes still in danger.

The monster monsoon has left police, rescue crews and soldiers scrambling to help locals, some of whom made homemade rafts and desperately paddled their pets, children and belongings to higher ground. 

Forecasters now say the strong winds have the potential of whipping up a tornado in the region in the coming days.  

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More than 500 Townsville homes were evacuated overnight amid fears they would be underwater come morning

Authorities went door-to-door to warn locals of the risks of staying as the 'unprecedented' once-in-a-century storm devastated some suburbs of the north Queensland area

The total rainfall for the area is forecast to hit two metres by early next week, with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk saying the deluge is 'unprecedented'.

'We are in uncharted territory here,' she told reporters on Saturday.

'When we use words like 'unprecedented' and 'uncharted', we use this for a reason.

'There's more rain to come.'

The monsoonal deluge has been deemed a catastrophe by the Insurance Council of Australia, with losses estimated at $16.7 million.

Bureau of Meteorology State Manager Bruce Gunn told the Courier Mail that Townsville's rainfall in the last seven days had smashed longstanding records.  

'Townsville Airport (has hit a) long term record and has surpassed the Night of Noah event of 1998,' Mr Gunn said.

'Seven day rainfall totals 1012mm to 9am this morning smashing the previous 806mm in 1998 — and beats the 10-day record of 925mm in 1953.' 

Desperate warnings have been issued over fears up to 20,000 homes are at risk as torrential rain causes severe flooding in North Queensland

Up to 300 homes had already been affected by flooding by Saturday afternoon

Authorities were seen on Saturday afternoon going door-to-door, warning people of the risk of staying in their homes. 

The Ross Dam gates were opened to alleviate the excess floodwaters earlier in the week, but flash-flooding has already seen it re-fill above capacity.

Paul Shafer and his family lost two cars, a truck and a caravan when water was released from the dam, a risky move designed to spare the city from more widespread flooding.

He understood the decision but said it was demoralising to see the destruction at his Hermit Park park home.

'We have decided to stay rather than evacuate, we still have electricity but it will be a sleepless night ahead, that's for sure.'

Rivers and creeks are bursting their banks and dams are overflowing from a massive monsoonal deluge that has dumped more than the annual rainfall in a week.

Panicked residents are dealing with flash flooding and land slips in a 'disaster area' stretching 700km from Cairns to Mackay. 

Striking images showed roads and houses totally submerged by heavy flooding while 100 soldiers were called in to help stricken residents prepare for the worst (Pictured: Rosslea residents take their boat around floodwaters)

Residents in North Queensland are being told to move to higher ground on what is expected to be the worst day of a catastrophic flood disaster (Pictured: Townsville floods)

Authorities have told residents to charge their devices in preparation as the worsening flood waters threaten the city's power supply.

More than 5000 homes were left without power as the storm rages into its sixth day.

Townsville HHS director of public health Dr Steven Donohue urged parents to keep an eye on children as they had never witnessed flooding at this level before.

'During floods we see tragedies where children are sucked into drains or culverts, even in shallow water.'

The Bureau of Meteorology has indicated that the conditions in Townsville might worsen.

Townsville is at the epicentre of the one-in-100 year event, with some areas expecting 400mm over the weekend. The city has been declared a disaster zone.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned communities in North Queensland the heavy rainfall and flooding could last well into next week (Pictured: Rainfall forecast over the weekend)

Queensland residents have been urged to seek safety as authorities are forced to open dam doors (pictured) even further as the state battles a one-in-100 year monsoon

It's causing flash flooding and land slips in a disaster area that stretches 700km from Cairns to Mackay (Pictured: flooding in Rosslea, Townsville)

More than 400 army personnel have been called into the area, helping locals to keep calm and they assist them with sandbagging. 

Authorities have provided more than 36,000 sandbags throughout the area, with council crews filling 10,000 of them as the flooding intensifies. 

'This is not a one-in-20-year-situation - it is a one-in-100 year event. Please take care on the roads there could be flash flooding. And if it's flooded - forget about it,' Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. 

Ms Palaszczuk said the next 24 to 48 hours were  'crucial', as she urged people in the area to heed warnings.

The Premier said the situation was 'unprecedented and uncharted' and ensured locals to listen to authorities and not panic. 

Bruce Gunn from Bureau of Meteorology expects the peak in the rainfall to hit on Saturday night and continue into next week.

'There's several more days to go in this flood event,' he said.

More than one hundred homes near the Ross River in Townsville are expected to be deliberately flooded as the spillway gates were opened to ease pressure. 

More massive falls are expected on Saturday in disaster-declared Townsville, which is at the epicentre of the one-in-100 year event (Pictured: Rosslea residents take their boat around floodwaters)

Townsville Local Disaster Management Group Chair Mayor Jenny Hill said the decision to open the spillway gates further was not taken lightly (Pictured: flooding in Townsville)

More than 400 army personnel have been called into the area, helping locals with sandbagging and keeping them calm (Pictured: army personnel assist a family evacuating rising flood waters)

Late Friday night, the city's mayor made the 'difficult' decision to open them further, meaning homes within the catchment of the Ross River dam faced flooding in order to prevent an even greater catastrophe downstream.

The dam was at 200 per cent capacity by Saturday morning - while authorities went door to door telling people they should leave at-risk homes. 

Dozens of homes have been swamped since the flooding began with schools and businesses shut, thousands displaced and evacuation centres opened.

State Disaster Coordinator Bob Gee urged people to seek safe places and said there were more than enough police checking people's abandoned property.

On Saturday morning, people in eight areas had been texted with warnings to urgently move to higher ground.

These include Bohle River, Saunders Creek and Stoney Creek and the suburbs Deeragun, Jensen and Burdell - Black River, Blue Water, Beach Holm, Yabulu and Toolakea.

Dozens of homes have been swamped since the flooding began with schools and businesses shut, thousands displaced and evacuation centres opened (Pictured: army personnel assisting with flood evacuations)

The Heatley Secondary College is operational as an evacuation centre for those who need safety (Pictured: Flooding in Townsville)

The city's mayor made the 'difficult' decision to open them further, meaning homes within the catchment of the Ross River dam faced flooding (Pictured: Flooding in Rosslea, Townsville)

Further north, coastal communities on the Gulf of Carpentaria have been told to prepare for the highest tides of year as the monsoon trough whips up gale force winds.

QFES Commissioner Katarina Carroll said there's been 38 rescues over the last few days as teams successfully cleared 80 people from their homes overnight. 

'That's ranging from rescuing people caught in flash flooding, minor flooding and major flooding, caught on roofs, you name it,' Ms Carroll said. 

Authorities have provided more than 36,000 sandbags throughout the area, with Council crews filling 10,000 of them as the flooding intensifies (Pictured: floodwaters in Townsville)

Townsville Local Disaster Management Group Chair Mayor Jenny Hill said the decision to open the spillway gates further was not taken lightly (Pictured: Man walks through flood water in Rosslea, Townsville)

An emergency alert for residents in Cluden, Rosslea, Hermit Park, Oonoonba, Idalia and Railway Estate has been issued by QFES amid the conditions.

'If residents are concerned about their safety they are strongly urged to evacuate immediately, by the safest route possible,' QFES said. 

Townsville Police District acting chief superintendent Steve Munro and Ms Palaszczuk have both said they were behind the decision to release water from the dam.

'We're very comfortable with the decision they have taken and of course by opening up the gates it'll let a substantial amount of water out,' Ms Palaszczuk said at a conference.

'Can I just urge all Townsville residents there just to make sure that they are following all those emergency alerts.' 

QFES Commissioner Katarina Carroll said there's been 38 rescues over the last few days as teams successfully cleared 80 people from their homes overnight (Pictured: floodwater in Townsville homes)

Police spent Thursday night searching around Giru for a 32-year-old man last seen on foot near Black Gully about 5pm on Thursday (Pictured: Townsville floodwaters)