Qld weather: Hailstorm hits Sunshine Coast, warning active for severe thunderstorms

A severe storm warning has been issued for areas of north of Brisbane with large hail and damaging winds likely. Hail has been recorded across the Sunshine Coast.

A severe storm warning is active for areas north of Brisbane. Picture: BOM

A severe storm warning has been issued for areas north of Brisbane with damaging winds and large hail likely.

Heavy hail has been recorded at Witta, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned at 6pm that a severe thunderstorm likely to produce damaging winds and large hailstones had been detected.

Hail that fell at Witta in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Picture: Supplied

It was moving east and forecast to affect Elgin Vale by 6.30pm and the Amamoor Range northwest of Kenilworth by 7pm.

It comes as coastal areas of South East Queensland are expected to be hit heaviest by severe thunderstorms that are predicted to bring damaging winds, heavy rainfall and large hail in coming days.

Hail that fell at Witta in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Picture: Supplied

Damaging winds (90km/h or greater), large hail (2cm or more) and heavy rainfall are possible in the region, with the “peak” of storm activity expected to be Tuesday afternoon and evening.

On Monday, weather bureau senior meteorologist Helen Reid said thunderstorms were “more likely” than had been reported on Sunday, and there was a slight variation on exactly where the storms were going to hit.

She said there was a “thunderstorm or two” expected to hit the South Burnett region on Monday afternoon but stronger storms were predicted for Tuesday through the afternoon.

“There has been a minor extension to the area expected to be impacted by storms tomorrow,” Ms Reid said.

“Thunderstorms tomorrow could extend as far as the South Burnett region but [are] expected for mainly the coastal ranges of South East Queensland all the way down to New South Wales.

“They could extend also into the Darling Downs as well as Central Queensland.

“We are expecting some heavy rainfall, large hail and damaging winds – the potential for all those things are there.

“Keep an eye out for any warnings as they come through across the next day also.”

Ms Reid said she expected temperatures across South East Queensland to “cool off” because of the storms and the cloud cover they create, but the western inland regions will be hit by increased heat.

A fallen tree at The Dawn in the Gympie region. Picture: Scott Frances

A fallen tree at The Dawn in the Gympie region. Picture: Scott Frances