‘83mm in an hour’: Severe storms, heavy rain lash southeast
There’s great news for all those fans hitting The Gabba for the AFL Grand Final - severe storms that swept through the southeast earlier this afternoon have eased just in time for kick off. Good falls were recorded in several centres, including 83mm in an hour in one Brisbane suburb.
QLD News
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Severe storms are no longer occurring in southeast Queensland and the weather bureau has said no severe storm development is expected during the AFL Grand Final.
The Bureau of Meteorology cancelled the severe storm warning across large parts of southeast Queensland at 5.10pm.
“Severe thunderstorms are no longer affecting the Southeast Queensland area (east of Dalby from Rainbow Beach to Stanthorpe),” a statement said.
“The immediate threat of severe thunderstorms has passed, but the situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings will be issued if necessary.”
Severe storm warnings remain in place for inland Queensland.
Residents in those areas are warned storms may produce damaging winds, hail and heavy rain.
Earlier, storms were reported at several centres across the southeast corner, bringing in heavy rain including 83mm in an hour at Camp Hill.
There were also warnings for gusty winds and hail.
Meteorologist Peter Markworth said large hailstones were most likely across western parts of Queensland included in current storm warnings.
“It’s not likely to be a risk for parts of the southeast coast tonight, it’s more the heavy rainfall in that area but we are certainly watching it,” he said.
“We definitely recommend people to check warnings and be on top of it, but I would say hail is unlikely for the southeast coast.”
He said 83mm of rain has been recorded at Camp Hill on Brisbane’s southside in the past hour.
Since 3pm, Carindale has recorded 42mm, Benobble in the Gold Coast hinterland has received 28mm, and 26mm have fallen in Brisbane.
Earlier, Mr Markworth said the falls would be hanging around for most of the day and could impact today’s AFL Grand Final.
“It’s expected to stick around for much of the afternoon, potentially and into the evening so it looks like it’s going to be quite a wet Grand Final,” he said.
The wet weather comes as RACQ warns Grand Final revellers to take public transport to the big game, as heavy traffic is expected in the area.
It would be a cat-astrophe if you missed the opening bounce. Catch public transport to the game! #BneTraffic https://t.co/KsTdvjiwFh
— RACQ (@RACQOfficial) October 23, 2020
“It would be a cat-astrophe if you missed the opening bounce. Catch public transport to the game,” RACQ said on social media.
EARLIER:
A bushfire on Fraser Island and winds from the north are the reasons why suburbs across Brisbane are blanketed with smoke this morning.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson said while there were standard hazard reductions taking place, there were no active bushfires or big burns in the immediate Brisbane area.
The spokesperson said calls had been coming in since 1am about the strong smell of smoke across the city.
A ‘stay informed’ notice was issued by the QFES yesterday about the Fraser Island fire, which was burning along the Wathumba track and to the west of Orchid Beach township.
People in the area were warned they would be affected by smoke, with reduced visibility and air quality.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Shane Kennedy said reasonable northerly winds were the reason people in Brisbane were now waking to the smell of smoke.
He said heavy conditions could be helping to cap the smoke in over the city, but that showers forecast for today could help clear the air.
He said rain was unlikely to cause major disruption to tonight’s AFL Grand Final, with falls of 1 to 6mm expected.
Mr Kennedy said there was a greater chance for showers and storms on the Darling Downs and further inland, with the chance of 10-30mm of rain, with isolated falls of 60mm.
