Qld weather: State to fry in heatwave conditions ahead of new round of severe thunderstorms
Queenslanders are sweating through a brief pause in severe thunderstorm activity, as heatwave conditions take over, but experts warn the heat will likely deliver more damaging storms.
South East Queensland is enjoying a brief respite from five days of severe thunderstorms that have wreaked havoc across the region, but the change will be short-lived.
Heatwave conditions that are affecting more than half of the state will continue to keep temperatures high in the southeast on Friday, but without the risk of storms, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said there is next to no chance for any more storms around the Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast regions on Friday, but warned more storms are on the horizon.
“Today is a little bit more relaxed day in regards to the storm forecast across the state, particularly across the southeast,” he said.
“It should be mostly bright and sunny across that area today, but it’s only a fairly short lived reprieve between the stormy weather.”
Mr Hines warned the wet and stormy weather is likely to make a return to the southeast on Saturday.
“[We] certainly could see more severe thunderstorms across that part of the state during Saturday afternoon and evening,” he said.
“It looks like the main risks with the storms tomorrow could be the potential for heavy rainfall and damaging wind, and maybe they don’t bring quite such a risk of large jail, which has been pretty frequent and pretty common across South East Queensland over the past several weeks.
“[It’s] certainly a bit of a break between stormy days today, but swiftly moving back in tomorrow.”
By 11.30am on Friday, more than 3000 homes were still without power following Monday’s violent storm that knocked out power to 162,000 at its peak.
Severe heatwave conditions remain for most coastal areas of the state, with a warning current for the Southeast Coast, Gulf Country, North Tropical Coast and Tablelands, Herbert and Lower Burdekin, Central Coast and Whitsundays, Capricornia, Central West and Wide Bay and Burnett.
Mr Hines said the heat and humidity which will continue for the weekend will drive a favourable environment for thunderstorms to form.
“Two of the things that go into the development of thunderstorms are heat and humidity, and we’ve got the heat in abundance at the moment with those very warm temperatures across the state,” he said.
“We also have had fairly humid conditions across central and eastern parts of Queensland for several days now.
“It only takes a little trigger to set off the development of these thunderstorms.
“Once they start to get going, they’ve got so much fuel, they have to just grow and grow and become these big, powerful storm systems which is why we could see severe thunderstorms on Saturday.”
Mr Hines said the heat will stay for a couple more days, with temperatures between 3C and 8C above average.
Meanwhile, residents smashed by Monday’s devastating storms will have access to disaster recovery grants.
The state and Commonwealth governments will offer $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five or more to cover the costs of essentials like food, clothing and medicine.
Other support measures will assist low income and uninsured residents.
Moreton Bay residents in 37 of the worst affected localities will be able to apply for Personal Hardship Assistance.
SUBURBS ELIGIBLE FOR DISASTER RECOVERY GRANTS
Banksia Beach, Beachmere, Bellara, Bellmere, Bongaree, Bracalba, Campbells Pocket, Corymbia, D’Aguilar, Delaneys Creek, Donnybrook, Elimbah, Godwin Beach, Greenstone, Kurwongbah, Lilywood, Meldale, Moorina, Mount Delaney, Mount Mee, Mount Pleasant, Neurum, Ningi, Ocean View, Rocksberg, Sandstone Point, Toorbul, Upper Caboolture, Wagtail Grove, Wamuran, Wamuran Basin, Waraba, Welsby, White Patch, Whiteside, Woodford, and Woorim.
