Severe storms loom for south-east Queensland as northern heatwave continues

Severe thunderstorms could bring giant hail, heavy rain and destructive winds to south-east Queensland from midday today, the Bureau of Meteorology warns.

Meteorologist Robert Urbaniak said areas south of Hervey Bay down to the Gold Coast and west towards Toowoomba could be in the firing line.

“There is a chance for giant hail, which is bigger than 5 centimetres, and intense rainfall and destructive winds greater than 125 kilometres an hour,” he said.

“So that’s a big storm day; that’s pretty impactful.”

The bureau said the severe storms were expected to hit from midday and peak between 2pm and 5pm.

“Regular thunderstorms are possible most other places other than the far south-west,” Mr Urbaniak said.

Severe heatwave warning continues

A severe heatwave warning remains in place for the Cape York Peninsula, North Tropical Coast and Tablelands districts.

Weipa has recorded its longest stretch of days with temperatures above 36 degrees Celsius, with 41 days as of Sunday.

Severe heatwave conditions are expected to intensify on Cape York Peninsula in the coming days, according to the bureau’s latest warning.

“By the end of the week it might have recorded 48 days with consecutive daily temperatures above 36 degrees, which is absolutely crazy,” Mr Urbaniak said.

Meanwhile in southern parts of the state, temperatures are expected to drop midweek.

“Temperatures will go down to sort of the mid-20s by late this week,” Mr Urbaniak said.

Wet and stormy weekend for Qld

The latest forecasts come after a weekend of wet and stormy weather across parts of the state.

Severe storms hit late on Friday and into Saturday morning, particularly around the eastern Darling Downs and near Gatton.

Areas south-west of Toowoomba were drenched by up to 80 millimetres in two hours, with up to 60mm in half an hour near Gatton.

On Sunday, severe storms affected several regions, including South East Queensland, the Darling Downs, Maranoa and Warrego, Central Highlands and all the way in the state’s North West.

Wind gusts in excess 65 kilometres per hour were recorded around Stanthorpe yesterday afternoon, causing damage to some properties.

Spectacular thunderstorms rolled through the Scenic Rim and the Gold Coast on Sunday evening, dropping some rain on the region.

Beaudesert, on the Scenic Rim, recorded the highest rainfall total in the area with 48 millimetres in the 24 hours since 9am Sunday.

In the 24 hours to 6am today, State Emergency Service crews responded to 27 calls for help across Queensland, including 10 each in Logan City and Cloncurry Shire.

Storms expected to clear SEQ from Tuesday

Mr Urbaniak said severe thunderstorm risks were expected to clear south-east Queensland from Tuesday.

The focus is then expected to shift to the Capricornia Coast and Northern Queensland on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A new trough is forecast to sweep into far-western Queensland on Thursday and Friday.

The bureau said this would bring widespread showers and thunderstorms from the Gulf Country through to Charleville, Augathella and Cunnamulla.