Storms, showers put dampener on Christmas weekend

Wet weather threatens to ruin Christmas weekend plans for people across South East Queensland, with flash flooding in western Brisbane and a severe thunderstorm warning issued.

Flash flooding has started to impact parts of western Brisbane as Gap Creek Road in Kenmore Hills shut just before 5.30pm following an earlier deluge.

Local flooding from Gap Creek has closed the road from around 221 to 275 Gap Creek Road in the Kenmore Hills and Mount Coot-tha area.

Motorists have been warned to avoid the area entirely and to not even attempt to cross any flooded road.

Rain has bucketed down around the southeast with Mt Glorious seeing 58mm of rain while Enoggera Dam had 63mm since 9am.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for people in parts of Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central West and Maranoa and Warrego.

The Bureau of Meteorology just after 4pm warned the storms were likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours.

“Locations which may be affected include Tambo, Blackall, Augathella, Aberfoyle, Alpha and Carnarvon National Park,” the warning stated.

Almost 50mm of rain has just fallen within half an hour at Pindari.

Heavy rain has been detected on the radar across southeast Queensland with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting possibly severe thunderstorms.

BOM on Saturday morning issued a forecast which stated central, eastern and southern Queensland could be in for storms with heavy rain and damaging wind into the afternoon and evening.

Showers began to build across the Gold Coast hinterland and up to Brisbane after lunch but the bureau is yet to issue any official storm warnings.

Rain is also beginning to build northwest of Gympie, between Townsville and Cairns, and through central Queensland.

A flood warning is current for the Bokhara River with major flooding likely at Hebel in the state’s south on Boxing Day.

BOM has warned that showery conditions and the chance of thunderstorms could ruin day trips to the beach across the festive period.

Meteorologist Helen Reid said the weather will be “perfect” for anyone who enjoys swimming in cooler conditions.

“With the potential for thunderstorms people should be mindful of the weather when planning any day trip,” she said.

“It’s definitely not going to be a fine and sunny festive season.”

Ms Reid said there is also the potential for thunderstorms in Brisbane and western Queensland on Boxing Day.

BRISBANE Queensland

Parts of South East Queensland received up to 94mm of rain in an hour on Christmas Eve as thunderstorms moved through the region.