Queensland weather: severe thunderstorms and hail to batter south of state
Queenslanders have been urged to batten down the hatches as an unusual autumn storm buffets the state’s south.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned that severe thunderstorms over the Darling Downs were expected to move into the south-east coast and southern Wide Bay and Burnett districts by mid afternoon.
“Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours,” the bureau said in a warning issued at 2.35pm.
“Locations which may be affected include Warwick, Toowoomba, Dalby, Kingaroy and Ipswich.”
The bureau also warned that severe thunderstorms moving east had been detected near Helidon and Toogoolawah, and could impact Laidley, Gatton, Esk, northern Lake Wivenhoe, Somerset Dam and Toogoolawah between 3pm and 3.30pm.
A similar warning for the Maranoa and Warrego districts was cancelled after the same front cleared the region.
The storm warnings come as the bureau reported soaking rain across much of NSW, including several areas in the state’s south which recorded more than 100mm in the two hours to 9am.
Just south of the border in Victoria’s far-east, the Gippsland region received between 70 to 110mm in the 24 hours to 9am.
The highest rainfall figures were 135mm at Mt Waldron, 114mm at the George near the Genoa River, and 110mm at Chandlers Creek, prompting the Bureau of Meteorology to issue a moderate flood warning for the Bemm, Cann and Genoa rivers.
Minor flooding was also expected along parts of the Snowy River.
Senior forecaster Tom Delamotte said it was likely the flood warnings would remain current until at least the end of the week, despite the wet conditions easing.
“Largely the rainfall has eased over Gippsland,” he said on Wednesday.
“There are still a few showers to come but we’re only expecting further falls of around 5mm or so for the rest of today.
“By tonight we should see some dry conditions prevail over Gippsland.”
Victoria’s reprieve will be shortlived, however, with showers forecast to develop in the state’s west on Thursday.
Delamotte said the front would usher in cooler conditions and some rain, but nowhere near the three-figure totals Gippsland has experienced.