Storm alert: Large hail, damaging winds, heavy rain forecast for huge chunks of Qld

Huge chunks of Queensland are on storm alert, with the South East, in particular, urged to brace for large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain.

Huge chunks of Queensland are on storm alert today, with the Bureau of Meteorology saying some areas could be hit with large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain.

BOM has forecast possible severe thunderstorms across the southern interior of the state and in the southeast corner.

“Heavy rain, damaging winds and large hail are the primary hazards in #SEQLD, mainly wind and rain further west,” the bureau said in a social media post.

Forecaster Pieter Classen said there was a “broad” risk for storms across the state.

“There is a slight risk in the metropolitan - Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast hinterland - but the bigger risk is inland to the coast,” he said.

“It’s something we will watch but the potential could be a bit limited by the cloud cover and the rain but there is still a bit of a risk.”

Huge parts of Queensland are on storm watch on Friday. Image: BOM

Mr Classen said over the past few days it has been warm across South East Queensland with temperatures 3-6C above average.

The stormy weather is likely to cool things off, however.

“It is cooling down with this cloud cover and potential rainfall,” Mr Classen said.

“Overnight was quite warm, about 2C above average. The forecast is 32C for today in Brisbane, it’s still quite humid, it is still 2C above average for the south today and then it cools down to 30C, which is about average, on Saturday.”

Friday’s warning comes after several storms swept through the South East overnight.

“Late yesterday evening, the Scenic Rim had a severe storm with 80mm dropped around there,” he said.

Scattered storms and showers are also predicted for parts of the far north today, Mr Classen said.