Queensland’s North Coast is bracing for heavy rain and flash flooding today as the storm whipped up by ex-Cyclone Imogen batters the region. A severe weather warning is in place from Babinda to Ayr, with some places set for a deluge of up to 250 millimetres this morning. The storms will likely last until at least Thursday. Townsville deputy mayor Mark Molachino said the region was on high alert for today’s expected drenching. “The region’s copped a soaking from this ex-tropical cyclone,” Mr Molachino told Today. But the area had escaped heavy rain overnight, he said.