Supercells, golf ball-sized hail: Wild storms set to smash Qld ... again

Supercell storms bringing possible golf ball-sized hail could smash parts of Queensland again today, just 24 hours after fierce storms wreaked havoc.

Supercell storms bringing possible golf ball-sized hail could smash parts of Queensland again today, just 24 hours after fierce storms wreaked havoc.

Thousands were left without power when severe thunderstorms brought large hailstones, strong winds and heavy rain to much of the state’s south on Tuesday.

Those storms saw almost 3000 customers without power at 7.15pm, with more than 1200 still without power at 11.30pm. The majority were in the Logan region.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned dangerous storms would resurface on Wednesday bringing possible giant hail.

The most recent forecast reveals a swathe of the state from Cape York to the border is in the firing line for possible storms.

“Severe storms are possible from Capricornia into southeast Queensland this afternoon,” the bureau forecast.

“The warning said large hail, damaging winds, and brief bursts of heavy rainfall that could cause flash flooding was possible.

Large hailstones were seen in several parts of the South East on Tuesday, as were downed trees.

“A rain band will focus over southern NSW and eastern Queensland by Wednesday morning, while showers and storms are likely to redevelop over large swathes of eastern Australia,” Sky News meteorologist Alison Osborne said.

“This cold air sitting over NSW on Wednesday will destabilise the atmosphere, making the environment very favourable once more for significant storm activity.

“The rain forecast shows a subsequent low pressure system just pushing off the NSW coast. The cold front associated with that low will lead to further shower and storm activity during Wednesday.

“There is a risk of supercells, the most dangerous kind of severe storm, which can bring giant hailstones over 5cm, that’s a golf ball, heavy rainfall, which can lead to some flash flooding with intense rainfall rates, and then also damaging wind gusts.”

Ms Osborne warned that southeastern Queensland and northern NSW could be in the firing line of some “particularly dangerous storms”, continuing the risk of damaging winds, flash flooding and hail.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecast a 95 per cent chance of rain in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday, with totals expected to reach 5mm to 10mm

Sisters Renelle, 7, and Jaynelle Lacbayo, 10, from Oakey make the most of some holiday beach fun before the rain hits Bellara at Bribie Island on Tuesday. Picture: Lachie Millard

Forecaster Brooke Pagel said Queensland could expect similar conditions again on Wednesday, but said the impacted locations had “shifted slightly.”

“What we have is more of a horseshoe shape for the areas expecting rainfall today, so places along the border like Goondiwindi will most likely miss out, but it will be most of the coast from the Gold Coast and curve in around the Charters Towers area,” she said.

“Rain, showers, and even thunderstorms are possible along that entire area, but the potential for severe storms will be in the South East this afternoon, probably south of the Sunshine Coast down to the border.”

The chance of thunderstorms will become less likely throughout the day.

Tuesday afternoon’s storms brought widespread rain to the southeast region, particularly around Logan and the Scenic Rim.

Spicers Peak recorded 56mm between 9am Tuesday and 6am Wednesday, while areas around the northern Gold Coast and Logan areas recorded about 30mm.

Looking further ahead, dryer air moving in from western Queensland on Thursday and Friday will keep showers out to sea, but rain will start to build again as the school holidays draw to a close.

There is a 20 per cent chance of rain on Friday, 50 per cent on Saturday, and 60 per cent on Sunday.

Heavy rain is also expected in other parts of the country over the next 10 days, exacerbating flood risks in regions already on high alert.