Queensland weather: Wet start of the week, potential thunderstorms

Weather experts have warned large hail and damaging winds are expected across the state with a week of storms and widespread drenching rain. SEE HOW MUCH FELL

A monster rain system has dumped 116mm on parts of southern Queensland with more to come. Picture: meteologix

Queenslanders are in for a week of thunderstorms and torrential rains as a slow-moving trough from the west is forecast to stick around for at least a week.

Since 9am on Monday, the majority of the state has shivered through a “well below average” November day with parts of the Western and Darling Downs coping a drenching.

Stanthorpe was hit by 51mm, while Artunga was hit with 81mm.

Bureau metrologist Patch Clapp said the trough currently hanging over Queensland’s southern interior is expected to provide winter-like conditions every day this week and over the coming weekend.

It has been a gloomy and wet day in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“Rain has been extremely heavy over much of the state, especially in the western and darling downs parts of Queensland with most of that area experiencing anywhere between 50 to 80mm of rain,” Mr Clapp said.

“Further west, storms are developing at the moment and it’s only a matter of time before we issue some severe thunderstorm warnings.

“What’s causing these conditions is a slow moving trough and extensive cloud cover. It is lingering over parts of the southern interior and made up of a wet, moist and unstable air mass, it is not going anywhere anytime soon.”

Around Brisbane, 5 to 10mm fell on parts of the city, with patchy rain around the south expected for the rest of the week.

Mr Clapp said temperatures recorded are 5 to 9C below average for this time of year.

It is expected to rain all week. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“Large hail and damaging winds are definitely on the cards but the primary concern is the rain with every day this week right around the state expected to feel at least a little sprinkle,” he said.

“The extensive cloud cover throughout most of the state will drive these temps down and create this persistent rainfall.”

Southern parts of the state barely made it passed 20C on Monday with Rollingstone and Gatton both 9C below average for this time of year and Warwick recording a maximum of just 18C.

On Tuesday, Brisbane is forecast to hit 26C with a high chance of rain expected throughout the day. Gold Coast will reach 25C with storms expected to make landfall around midday.

Rainfall totals in excess of 110mm were recorded across southern Queensland on Sunday night.

The Bureau’s Helen Reid said storms were expected to form in the coming days.

“We have got a really humid environment so there could be a lot of rainfall.

“There is a lot of moisture in the air and severe thunderstorms could be seen,” she said.

Areas such as St George picked up 77mm of rain, with Goondiwindi hitting the 60mm mark.

“We have seen those higher numbers in the last 24 hour period and we can expect that today, not much will change and the heavy rainfall will remain in isolated areas.”

Goondiwindi, Kingaroy and Chinchilla will receive the bulk of the rainfall and severe thunderstorm warnings can be expected in the Wide Bay and Capricornia regions.

Closer to the coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast won’t be as dramatic with mainly showers coming from the trough in the west.

“The southeast can expect the rain to stick around though, thunderstorms and showers could be hanging around for the rest of the week as the trough is very slow moving,” Ms Reid added.