Bureau warns of possible afternoon storms

South-east Queensland could be buffeted by pre-summer storms over the next few days, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned.

As hail hit the Sunshine Coast on Monday afternoon, BoM senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said storms could be expected in south-east Queensland and north-east NSW on Tuesday.

Bradbury said that was due to a trough that moved up the southern and central coast of NSW on Monday.

Storms are possible across the south-east this week.Credit: Matt Dennien

“Brisbane and the Gold Coast may escape the most severe storms [on Tuesday], but we are likely to see that risk a little further inland,” she said on Monday.

“Now, large hail and damaging winds are most likely with severe storms [on Tuesday]. We may see some short, sharp down-bursts of rain, particularly on the Queensland side of the border, later in the afternoon and evening, but wind and hail are the main risks.”

Bradbury said the expected wind could be enough to bring down trees.

“Large hail and heavy rain can also reduce visibility on the roads, making things dangerous,” she said.

“On top of that, we may also see some minor damage to cars or property with that hail and wind risk over the next couple of days.”

Bradbury said “we’re not going to see the end of it” come Wednesday, even as the trough was expected to move away.

“Showers and storms will continue in those same areas, becoming more widespread across parts of central and south-east Queensland in particular,” she said.

“Showers and storms are not likely to be severe through all of these areas – the severe thunderstorm area on Wednesday is more likely to be across south-east inland parts of Queensland, with damaging winds, large hail and heavy rain, once again, a risk.

“As we go through into Thursday, the risk of storms is going to back off a little bit more significantly, leaving us mostly with coastal showers along the southern Queensland and northern New South Wales areas.”

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