Storm hot spots in our region
THE most ferocious storms in south-east Queensland occur in the Toowoomba region, according to new research by Dr Joshua Soderholm.
Hot spots to the north and south of Toowoomba are the birthplaces of huge hail storms, which then bear down on Ipswich, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, an analysis of historical data shows.
Dr Soderholm, of the University of Queensland’s Climate Research Group, used data from Bureau of Meteorology radars over 19 years, combined with a two-year field campaign and observations from weather stations to develop a thunderstorm map highlighting the most and least affected areas.
The data shows hot spots at Crows Nest, Esk and at Rosevale near Boonah.
Dr Soderholm said the mountainous terrain funnelled sea breeze high into the sky where it formed thunderstorms.
Westerly winds then pushed the storms east.
He said the data provided climatologists with a better understanding of where big storms formed and tracked and areas most frequently impacted.
“That means people can be more prepared and resilient,” he said.
While the areas to the north and south of Toowoomba give birth to huge storms, the city itself has a milder climate.
Dr Soderholm said that was because of the topography and climate of areas west of Toowoomba, which were dry and sloped downwards.
“It relates to the lay of the land. Storms start around the highest peaks in places with the best moisture from rainforests.
“They don’t often start in locations to the west and push towards Toowoomba, but it does happen.”