Damaging storms ‘can strike with little warning’
Violent thunderstorms like the one that smashed Helensvale on Christmas Day could continue to strike with little warning this summer, with a “perfect storm” of conditions creating the severe and unpredictable weather.
Queenslanders have been urged to prepare their homes for dangerous storms – including high winds and heavy rain – as experts warn that the severe weather is particularly difficult to predict and often forms with little notice.
Sky News Australia meteorologist Bradlyn Oakes said while storms were common during the Queensland summer, the recent spate of severe thunderstorms were the result of the “perfect atmospheric” conditions.
“All the ingredients have been there recently,” she said.
“Just the way that the atmosphere has been set up for severe storms to develop, and this is especially true when you have a little bit of heat during the day or earlier in the morning.
“And that’s why those storms tend to occur in the early afternoon and then continue through the evening, because we just have more of that heat up there.
“That helps with some of the other characteristics when it comes to those better storms.”
Ms Oakes said that combination could lead to stronger storms, with severe hail and flash flooding. She said those “perfect storm” conditions could not be ruled out in January and February.
“We are watching for the potential … of severe thunderstorms to develop,” she said of the summer months.
Ms Oakes said the severity of a storm was usually only known, at most, a few days before, with some hitting almost in an instant.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology’s alert system, a “very dangerous thunderstorm”, such as the one that caused widespread damage on Christmas Day, could produce hailstones in excess of 5cm, destructive wind gusts above 125km/h, mini-tornadoes and intense rain that could lead to flash flooding.