Qld weather: Heat, storms and flooding rain forecast for summer

Weather experts are predicting a wetter and hotter than average summer for Queensland, with a triple threat of flooding, storms and heatwaves for much of the state.

Extreme heat in Queensland’s southwest has already sparked a bushfire emergency. Picture: QFS/ Katrina Anne, Dirranbandi

• Photos: Qld’s wet, wild November

Weather experts are predicting a wetter and hotter than average summer for Queensland, with a triple threat of flooding, storms and heatwaves for much of the state.

After a relatively slow start to the severe weather season, experts said, by mid-November Queenslanders well and truly had a taste of summer.

In the past 14 days parts of South East and Central Queensland copped back-to-back severe thunderstorms followed by a rain dump of up to 200mm in some areas, causing major flash flooding.

Queensland storm chaser Thomas Hinterdorfer said as Australia began to shift from neutral into a La Nina weather event there was more chance of “volatile weather” leading to “repetitive severe storms”.

“We’re going to a lull now, especially in South Eastern Queensland. How long that lasts for is a bit of an unknown, but we are expecting the volatile weather to return at some stage, especially coming into December.

South East and Central Queensland communities have experienced flash flooding this week, with more to come. Picture Lachie Millard

“Most long-range models are going for above-average rainfall in December across large parts of Queensland, as well as near to above average temperatures, so that would naturally assume storms are on the cards again across large parts of the state,” he said.

“Then what those storm days and severe weather days look like will just come down to the atmosphere and what it’s doing at the time.”

The mix of La Nina moisture and heat tended to result in severe storms, Mr Hinterdorfer said, unlike previous summers when there was a strong El Nino climate (drier) or a strong La Niña (wetter).

The Bureau of Meteorology is also predicting an “unusually wet” and potentially dangerous summer with torrential downpours, thunderstorms and bushfires all on the cards.

“There’s a high chance of above-average rainfall throughout the December to February period. It looks like a majority of that’s going to be focused in December, but still (with an) increased chance through January and February as well,” senior climatologist Hugh McDowell said. “There’s 1½ to 2½ times the likelihood of unusually wet conditions.”

Mr McDowell said the east coast of Queensland would be primed for this wet weather, with the strongest likelihood falling from Hervey Bay northwards, but he did not discount the South East.

Just this week the Bureau briefed Premier David Crisafulli, Police Minister Dan Purdie, and Disaster Recovery and Fire Minister Ann Leahy on the season ahead – and Mr McDowell said there were concerns for flash flooding and extreme heat.

“The difference this year is we’re seeing certain trends – we’re seeing an elevated heat risk, which brings elevated risk of heatwaves, and then we’re seeing that elevated rainfall risk as well, which brings that elevated risk of flash flooding compared to a normal severe weather season.”