Severe storms set to fire up as ‘unstable air mass’ combines over Qld

Severe storms are set to lash parts of Queensland today with damaging winds up to 90km/h and heavy rain leading to flash flooding predicted.

Severe thunderstorms are forecast for the northern, central and southern interior of Queensland today with winds reaching up to 90km/h.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned just after 10am that a moist north-easterly flow is combining with an unstable air mass over the interior.

“This set-up will result in the potential for severe storms today,” it warned.

“Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours.”

As of 12.30pm, severe thunderstorms were occuring in the Channel Country and Maranoa and Warrego forecast districts.

Locations which may be affected include Thargomindah, Cunnamulla, Hungerford, Eulo, Barringun and Wyandra.

⛈️Saturday's Thunderstorm Forecast: Severe storms possible through northern, central and southern interior today. Primary hazards include damaging wind gusts along with possible heavy rainfall and large hail for areas south of Windorah. Updates: https://t.co/r4OPb7Rrq7#QLDStormpic.twitter.com/OowKSM29L8

— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 11, 2022

This comes as the bureau issued a strong wind warning for Townsville, Mackay and Capricornia.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Brooke Pagel said more thunderstorms are expected over the weekend.

“The interior will be hit the hardest but the actual rainfall totals won’t be that high,” Ms Pagel said.

“About 5-10mm are forecast.

“Thunderstorms are already spiking up across the tropics but they’re not going to be severe”.

Southeast Queensland is forecast to miss out on most of the action with a total of 1mm predicted.

“It’s looking partly cloudy, winds will get up to 25km/h,” she said.

“Temperatures will hit the mid to high 20s.”

The bureau hasn’t issued any hazardous surf warnings but a number of Queensland beaches are closed.

A Surf Life Saving Queensland spokesperson said Marcoola Beach on the Sunshine Coast and Main Beach (Point Lookout) on Stradbroke Island are closed today due to dangerous surf conditions.

Streets Beach South Bank remains closed due to pollution caused by SEQ’s recent flood event.

In Far North Queensland, Clifton Beach, Ellis Beach, Kewarra Beach, Palm Cove, Trinity Beach, Yorkeys Knob Beach are closed due to marine stingers.