South-east Queensland is on alert for another round of severe thunderstorms, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning that giant hail and destructive winds could hit the region as two weather systems were set to converge by the afternoon. The bureau said broad parts of eastern Australia could be affected, but the south-east coast, Darling Downs, Granite Belt, Wide Bay-Burnett and southern parts of the Central Highlands were most likely to see intense conditions.
Meteorologist Christie Johnson said the storms carried the risk of damaging to destructive winds, large to giant hail and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding.
"Basically, any storms that develop from now do have the potential to become severe," she said. Peak times were expected as more heat built through the day, particularly into the late morning and afternoon.
The warning came less than 24 hours after storms battered parts of Queensland, including Wide Bay-Burnett, Maryborough and Gympie on Monday. Hail stones of up to 10 centimetres were reported at Glenwood near the Fraser Coast and up to four centimetres at Yarraman near Toowoomba, with hail also reported through parts of the Northern Rivers in NSW.
"We also saw more than 50 millimetres of rainfall recorded at Cooroy on the Sunshine Coast in just 30 minutes yesterday afternoon," Johnson said.
While some severe thunderstorm warnings had been cancelled by the bureau on Tuesday morning, Johnson said troughs were already moving over parts of Queensland, with two systems set to converge by the afternoon. "That combination is why we're looking at having a very significant storm, particularly over south-eastern Queensland today," she said.
Destructive winds of 120km/h were possible, strong enough to bring down trees and powerlines. Johnson said tornado-like conditions were not out of the question but said this would be in the context of “really busy weather”.
"Any supercell thunderstorm does, by definition ... have the risk that it could produce tornadoes," she said. "[But they are] quite rare. It's much more likely that we'll just get damage from the destructive winds out of the supercell itself."
The bureau encouraged anyone in affected areas to check weather updates, warning that storm warnings could change throughout the day.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- South-east Queensland residents should expect rapidly changing conditions through the day, with large hail, destructive winds and flash flooding all flagged as risks.
- Winds of up to 120km/h can bring down trees and powerlines, so the practical risks include power outages and dangerous travel.
- The bureau says warnings can change through the day, so residents in the affected districts should keep checking forecasts.
Background
Severe thunderstorm warnings are a routine part of the warmer months in eastern Australia, when heat and moisture build up and troughs move across the region. Supercell thunderstorms, the most organised type of storm, can bring large hail, damaging winds and, occasionally, tornadoes. This warning follows a round of storms the previous day that dropped large hail on parts of Queensland and dumped tens of millimetres of rain in a short period on the Sunshine Coast.
What to Watch
- Updates to bureau warnings through the late morning and afternoon, which Johnson identified as the peak period for severe storms.
- Whether the two troughs converge over south-east Queensland as forecast, which the bureau says would drive the most significant storm activity.
- Any reports of flash flooding, downed powerlines or hail damage in the Wide Bay-Burnett, Darling Downs, Granite Belt and south-east coast districts.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedThe Bureau warned of giant hail and destructive winds in south-east Queensland.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “South-east Queensland is on alert for another round of severe thunderstorms, with the weather bureau warning of giant hail and destructive winds.”
- SupportedTwo systems were set to converge by the afternoon.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Johnson said troughs were already moving over parts of Queensland, with two systems set to converge by the afternoon.”
- SupportedChristie Johnson said the combination could produce a very significant storm, particularly over south-eastern Queensland.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““That combination is why we’re looking at having a very significant storm, particularly over south-eastern Queensland today,” she said.”
- SupportedDestructive winds of up to 120km/h were possible.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Destructive winds of 120km/h were possible, with the strength to bring down trees and powerlines.”
- SupportedSouth-east Queensland was on alert for another round of severe thunderstorms.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “South-east Queensland is on alert for another round of severe thunderstorms”
- SupportedThe south-east coast, Darling Downs, Granite Belt, Wide Bay-Burnett and southern parts of the Central Highlands were most likely to see intense conditions.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “regions most likely to cop intense conditions were the south-east coast, Darling Downs, Granite Belt, Wide Bay-Burnett and southern parts of the Central Highlands.”
- SupportedJohnson said storms could bring damaging to destructive winds, large to giant hail and heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““These storms may produce damaging to destructive winds, large to giant hail and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding,” meteorologist Christie Johnson said.”
- SupportedJohnson said, “Basically, any storms that develop from now do have the potential to become severe.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Basically, any storms that develop from now do have the potential to become severe.”
- SupportedStorms battered parts of Queensland, including Wide Bay-Burnett, Maryborough and Gympie, on Monday.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The warning arrived less than 24 hours after storms battered parts of Queensland including the Wide Bay-Burnett region, Maryborough and Gympie on Monday.”
- SupportedHailstones up to 10 centimetres were reported at Glenwood near the Fraser Coast.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Hail stones up to 10 centimetres were reported at Glenwood near the Fraser Coast”
- SupportedJohnson said more than 50 millimetres of rain was recorded at Cooroy in 30 minutes the previous afternoon.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““We also saw more than 50 millimetres of rainfall recorded at Cooroy on the Sunshine Coast in just 30 minutes yesterday afternoon,” Johnson said.”
- SupportedJohnson said, “Any supercell thunderstorm does, by definition ... have the risk that it could produce tornadoes.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Any supercell thunderstorm does, by definition … have the risk that it could produce tornadoes,” she said.”
