Warm, sunny change predicted ahead of wet weather lashing

Sunny skies across the Darling Downs will come to an end with forecasters predicting storms and wild weather.

Volatile weather events have lashed the Darling Downs and southwest Queensland in November, and forecasters are telling people to brace for more in the coming days.

In the past 14 days parts of South East and Central Queensland copped back-to-back severe thunderstorms followed by a rain dump of up to 200mm in some areas, causing major flash flooding.

Charleville residents were also on high alert last week after being hit with 153mm in just two hours.

Murweh Shire Council posted to social media of major flooding to the Bradley's Gully near Charleville.

In some good news for the wider Darling Downs, forecasters have predicted a warm and sunny start to the week ahead before storm clouds begin brewing.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Peter Classon said mostly sunny conditions and an increase in temperature is likely to be felt over the coming days.

A top of 27 degrees is predicted for Toowoomba on Monday, and is predicted to remain around average for the remainder of the week.

“Across the Darling Downs, expect to see temperatures start to creep up. There is still the chance of isolated showers in some parts,” he said.

The dreary weather is predicted to make a comeback, as a gradual easing trend brings patchy showers and the chance of moderate rainfall from Friday and into the weekend.

“There is a watchpoint for the Darling Downs at this stage, with rain areas increasing over the weekend,” he said.

The southwest can expect to see much of the same conditions heading into the week, with the potential for thunderstorms towards the end of the week.

Mr Classon said Queenslanders can expect a relatively active storm season, along with hotter days to come.

Major flash flooding in Charleville. Picture: Qld Fire Department

Queensland storm chaser Thomas Hinterdorfer said as Australia began to shift from neutral into a La Nina weather event there was more chance of “volatile weather” leading to “repetitive severe storms”.

“We’re going to a lull now, especially in South Eastern Queensland. How long that lasts for is a bit of an unknown, but we are expecting the volatile weather to return at some stage, especially coming into December,” he said.

“Most long-range models are going for above-average rainfall in December across large parts of Queensland, as well as near to above average temperatures, so that would naturally assume storms are on the cards again across large parts of the state.

“Then what those storm days and severe weather days look like will just come down to the atmosphere and what it’s doing at the time.”

The mix of La Nina moisture and heat tended to result in severe storms, Mr Hinterdorfer said, unlike previous summers when there was a strong El Nino climate (drier) or a strong La Niña (wetter).

Originally published as Warm, sunny change predicted ahead of wet weather lashing