Qld weather: City of Moreton Bay demands answers over lack of storm alert

A council is demanding answers from the Bureau of Meteorology over a lack of storm warning alerts as wild weather hit yesterday, damaging businesses, cutting power and prompting dozens of SES call-outs.

Hail has reportedly been recorded at Morayfield, north of Brisbane,

A council north of Brisbane has blamed the Bureau of Meteorology over the lack of alerts issued as wild weather hit Morayfield, damaging businesses, cutting power and prompting dozens of SES call-outs.

A City of Moreton Bay spokeswoman said, in a statement, that the council’s weather warnings were based on warnings issued by the weather bureau.

Hail pictured in the carpark of Bunnings at Morayfield, which copped the brunt of a massive storm. Picture: Facebook

“MoretonAlerts are generated based on BOM warnings,” the statement read.

“There were no BOM warnings received for City of Moreton Bay about the storm yesterday.

“Last night the City of Moreton Bay lodged an urgent inquiry to BOM about why warnings were not received.”

The spokeswoman added that the fact no warning was issued yesterday has no connection to the delay in storm alerts issued via MoretonAlert earlier in the week.

“The fact that there was no BOM warning for yesterday’s weather event has no connection to the delay in storm alerts via MoretonAlert that was experienced by Moreton Bay residents

earlier in the week,” the statement read.

Hailstones on a trampoline at Morayfield. Picture: Facebook

“City of Moreton Bay’s SMS delivery system is working properly and if a warning had been received by BOM would have been activated.

“The event yesterday in Morayfield took place in a matter of minutes.

“This emphasises the need for residents and businesses to plan, prepare, and survive.

“This includes ensuring the property is maintained to be resilient and having appropriate insurance to cover storm damage when the worst happens.”

The Bureau of Meteorology has been contacted for comment.