Brisbane weather: More storms set to strike ‘without warning’ this summer

A “perfect storm” of weather conditions could lead to more extreme events with little to no time to prepare, experts warn.

Deadly thunderstorms could continue to strike with little warning this summer, as a “perfect storm” of conditions creates the severe and unpredictable weather that has battered the southeast over four days.

Queenslanders have been urged to prepare their homes for dangerous storms including high winds and heavy rainfall, as experts warned the severe weather was particularly difficult to predict and often formed with little notice.

On Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology put out a rare warning for “very dangerous” weather shortly before the Helensvale storm struck, but said those alerts could usually only be issued on short notice.

Sky News Australia meteorologist Bradlyn Oakes said while storms were common during the Queensland summer, the recent spate of severe thunderstorms were the result of the “perfect atmospheric” conditions.

“All the ingredients have been there recently just the way that the atmosphere has been set up for severe storms to develop, and this is especially true when you have a little bit of heat during the day or earlier in the morning,” Ms Oakes said.

“And that’s why those storms tend to occur in the early afternoon and then continuing through the evening.”

Ms Oakes said that combination could lead to stronger storms with giant hail and flash flooding.

Bob Avery at his storm-damaged home at Helensvale on the Gold Coast. Picture: Adam Head

She said those “perfect storm” conditions couldn’t be ruled out through January and February and could continue.

“We are watching for the potential … of severe thunderstorms to develop,” she said of the summer months.

Ms Oakes said the severity of the storm was usually only known at most a few days before, with some hitting almost in an instant.

According to the bureau’s alert system, a “very dangerous thunderstorm”, like the one that caused widespread carnage on Christmas Day, could produce giant hail in excess of 5cm, destructive wind gusts above 125km/h, tornadoes and intense rainfall that could lead to life-threatening flash flooding.

Bureau forecaster Helen Reid said those alerts were issued after a storm had developed.

“That’s when you’d be looking at not just heavy rainfall, but intense rainfall and not just damaging winds but destructive winds,” she said.

Ms Reid said when a “very dangerous” warning was issued, people shouldn’t just be alert but “be alarmed”.

“The messaging with any warning is make sure everything is safe and secure and bunker down,” she said.

“But I think if we put out the very dangerous (warning) then it’s more the sense of just be aware that things could get even worse than regular.

“This isn’t necessarily going to be a (bad) storm. It’s gonna be a nasty storm.

“Just be aware that it would have the potential for even worse damage associated with it than you would normally expect.”