Warwick, Granite Belt forecast: Up to 50mm rain to come under heavy rainfall, storms

Experts say residents from Warwick to the Granite Belt could receive most of the monthly rainfall average in just a few days this week. Get the full forecast here:

STORMS AHEAD: Predictions of heavy rainfall and potentially severe thunderstorms have been issued for Warwick and the wider Southern Downs. Picture: file

Warwick residents could welcome another week of heavy rainfall, with experts predicting a significant weather system could bring up to 50mm of rain in just a few days.

Forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology indicate a large cloudbank will move across into the Southern Downs from Monday afternoon, bringing potential downpours and severe thunderstorms to the region.

BOM meteorologist Helen Kirkup said residents across Warwick would likely receive 10mm - 15mm on Monday before ramping up to another 25mm - 35mm on Tuesday.

“Within the region, the further you are south the more rain you’ll get, and if you’re under a thunderstorm the combined totals might be up to 50mm,” Ms Kirkup said.

“In terms of the thunderstorms, the main issue will be Tuesday where we are flagging that through the (Southern) Downs and Granite Belt we could see some become severe.

“There’s a slight risk of damaging wind gusts or hail, but the main risk is short bursts of heavy rainfall.”

Unofficial online forecaster Weatherzone is currently predicting even greater rainfall totals for the region, with up to 60mm for Warwick across Monday and Tuesday alone.

Ms Kirkup said the downpour would be the last chance of any significant rain for at least the next week, with a small likelihood of up to 4mm of rain on the cards for both Warwick and Stanthorpe on Thursday.

BOM data indicates Warwick has so far received only 6mm of its 71mm October rainfall average.

Daytime temperatures are expected to plummet by about 10C across the Southern Downs due to the extensive cloud cover, with Warwick to drop down to a 18C maximum on Tuesday before hitting the low- to mid-twenties for the rest of the week.

Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt are predicted to follow the same pattern, dropping to 15C on Tuesday and reaching 22C by Thursday.

No thunderstorm warnings have been issued for the region at this stage.