The Bureau of Meteorology is warning that severe thunderstorms could bring damaging wind, heavy rain and large hail to parts of northern NSW and South East Queensland tonight (Tuesday 8 October) and also tomorrow.
Bureau meteorologist Angus Hines says storms are expected to develop across the region from late Tuesday and then again on Wednesday (around the middle of the day), with many areas likely to see severe thunderstorms.
In a video released on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Hines said the greatest risk initially was more inland and to the north, in places like Ipswich and up towards the far east of the Darling Downs.
‘If we see severe thunderstorms on Tuesday on the NSW side of the border, the primary threats are damaging wind gusts over 90 kilometers an hour and large hail stones greater than two centimeters across,’ he said.
‘If we see these storms on the Queensland side of the border today, not only could we see the damaging wind and the large hail, we could get areas of heavy rain that lead to flash flooding.’
Wednesday outlook
Angus Hines says the highest risk area will be west of Toowoomba and east of Roma, in Queensland, with a possibility of severe thunderstorms pushing out towards the coast.
‘On Wednesday, wind, hail and heavy rainfall are all a possibility,’ he said. ‘In particular, that heavy rain could hit the coast north of Brisbane, especially around that Sunshine Coast area.’
He says some of the most significant storm impacts could cause damage and power outages, along with dangerous driving conditions, whether because of high winds or potentially heavy rain, causing flash flooding and poor visibility.
‘We could see damage to properties, cars or any outdoor furniture, fences and the like across your property.’
For Thursday, Mr Hines says the Bureau expects the intensity and severe thunderstorm activity to subside in most places, with a standard showery day predicted across the east coast of the country and over the next three days.
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