Thunderstorms likely for southeast before dry, hot conditions sweep region over weekend

Large hail has been reported in the Brisbane Valley, hours after Brisbane Airport and surrounds were smashed by high winds and rain – and even a tornado.

Storm warnings have been cancelled for South East Queensland, but not before 3.5cm hail was reported at Kilcoy in the Brisbane Valley about 3.40pm.

And it followed a tornado from a supercell thunderstorm near Brisbane Airport this morning, with people in the area describing terrifying scenes on the ground.

Luggage Point next to Brisbane Airport recorded a staggering 101mm of rain in one hour between 10.18am and 11.18am.

This photo was taken by Lyndon Hays just after landing at Brisbane Airport.

Large #tornado east of #Brisbane and hour ago.@BOM_Qld@BOM_au@NewsTalk4BC#queenalandpic.twitter.com/rs38GB5b33

— Justin Noonan (@NoonanJustin) October 22, 2021

Damage at Brisbane Airport after an intense storm moved through the area. Picture David Clark

A Brisbane Airport spokeswoman said all public roads leading into the terminals were now clear, but staff were working to deal with the damage.

A skylight in the international terminal was being repaired, there were safety checks on the roof after sheets flew off during the tornado, and at least one plane had been damaged, but the extent of the damage was being assessed.

The domestic terminal had some minor flooding in the central screening area, which was closed temporarily, and there was minor damage to the level-three Airtrain walkway.

Flights were back and running, with the potential for minor delays.

The aftermath of a severe storm that hit at Brisbane airport on Friday morning. Picture: David Clark

Visitors to the airport earlier told of wild scenes as the storm hit.

Brendan Smith was sitting in his van in the international airport car park when he saw the “vortex” flying along towards him.

“At that point all the trolleys started running everywhere, the roof sheets got ripped off, there was another bus beside me and we genuinely thought the bus was going over,” he said.

“We were being tossed around, I told the wife it felt like a team of footy players trying to tip the van over all from different directions.”

He said it didn’t last long but he thought the roof above him was going to be ripped off.

The Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed a tornado near Brisbane airport on Friday morning.

A Brisbane Airport spokeswoman said aircraft were grounded and that there was damage at the international terminal.

Large cargo containers were blown across the runway and sheets of metal lifted into the air.

Roads were at a standstill but there have been no reports of any injuries.

Can confirm. Lomandra drive pic.twitter.com/I3JQf2Xs8N

— Marty (@BigBangMan68) October 22, 2021

At 10.50am, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning for people in the Brisbane City council area for an isolated severe thunderstorm in eastern Brisbane, with giant hail possible.

“Severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Brisbane Airport,” the warning said.

“These thunderstorms are slow moving. They are forecast to affect Mud Island by 11:20am.”

The storm warning has since been cancelled, but the Bureau will continue to monitor the situation.

Once rain and moisture clear away from the region on Saturday afternoon, BOM forecasts that dry and hot conditions will increase the fire danger status in the southeast to ‘very high’.

Storm clouds gather over Brisbane’s CBD as severe storms are predicted to hit southeast Queensland. Picture: Dan Peled.

“It’s a bit of a mix, right now we are forecasting for light showers, but if conditions develop, there are all the right ingredients for intense and severe thunderstorms in parts of southeast Queensland,” BOM Meteorologist Helen Kirkup said earlier on Friday.

“The potential thunderstorms will then clear away and replaced by dry, hot conditions on Sunday which will increase the fire danger across the southeast to very high,” she said.

Thunderstorms are also likely on Friday and Saturday for regions across the state including the Carnarvon Range, Proserpine, and north of Mount Isa and Cloncurry.

Isolated heavy rainfall occurred across southeast Queensland in the 24 hours to 9am Friday, with areas such as Warwick, Beachmere and Waterford all exceeding 65mm.
Beachmere received 79mm, while Mt Alford had 68mm, and Waterford 68mm.
With Brisbane expected to exceed 34 degrees on Sunday, dry and hot conditions will increase the fire danger warning to ‘very high’.
Severe fire danger warnings will also be issued for the Darling Downs and Maranoa region on Saturday, with similarly dangerous conditions present.