Gold Coast weather: BOM warns of thunderstorms with ’giant hail’, destructive winds and intense rain leading to flash flooding

The Bureau of Meteorology is warning Gold Coast residents are in for a wild afternoon as “very dangerous thunderstorms” threaten the city

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THE Gold Coast could be smashed by giant hailstones, destructive winds and intense rain leading to flash flooding during storms this afternoon, warns the Bureau of Meteorology.

As of 3pm, Gold Coasters were being warned about “very dangerous thunderstorms” and “damaging, locally destructive winds (and) large, possibly giant hailstones”.

The 128 km Brisbane (Mt Stapylton) Radar Loop. Picture: BOM

The BOM has also warned it’s likely “intense rainfall” would likely “lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding

The thunderstorms are moving towards the east to southeast.

BOM has flagged that an updated warning would be issued about 4pm.

Insurance companies including Budget Direct have been sending text messages to Coast residents warning of a “high probability of hail” for some suburbs.

Gold Coast weather from BOM

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) advises anyone facing severe storms should:

• Move your car under cover or away from trees.
• Secure loose outdoor items.
• Never drive, walk or ride through flood waters. If it’s flooded, forget it.
• Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm.
• Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.

TUESDAY: WHAT TO EXPECT AS THUNDERSTORMS THREATEN COAST

GOLD Coasters can expect a drenching, lightning and strong winds this afternoon, but there’s only a small chance the city will be battered by storms packing hailstones.

Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecaster Felim Hanniffy said the Coast would probably miss the worst of storms around southeast Queensland today, but commuters face a wet trip home.

The BOM has advised in its latest Severe Thunderstorm Warning todays' storms have “quickly merged into rain areas while some embedded, heavy thunderstorms remain severe”.

“Large hail is now considered unlikely, particularly since weak supercells have now weakened,’ the warning read.

The Bureau of Meteorology 128 km Brisbane (Mt Stapylton) Radar Loop. Picture: BOM

Further, Mr Hannify said: “Most of the action is further west around the Darling Downs and up north around the Sunshine Coast.”

“The storms have kind of merged into a big rain area, which are training down towards Brisbane and eventually the Gold Coast,” he said.

“It will probably turn quite showery, quite wet, for a time, probably from about mid to late afternoon. Right around the time people will be commuting.

“There could be some thunderstorm activity, some lightning flashes, but the main hazard in that will be heavy rain and maybe damaging winds.

Thunderstorms are threatening southeast Queensland. Picture: BOM

“Hail is unlikely now we’re getting these big rain areas.”

Mr Hannify said the most intense storms had passed, “but for the commute home it’s looking like a wet one.”

Rain, heavy in parts, is expected to stick around into Wednesday and early Thursday, when thunderstorms may again threaten the Coast.

“There looks like another round to come tomorrow driven by a trough system over the Darling Downs at the moment,” he said.

“That system is becoming more mobile and will move toward the Coast tomorrow. That will bring a renewed threat of severe storm activity across the southeast.

For emergency assistance phone the State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500.

It’s likely the Gold Coast will miss the worst of the thunderstorms in southeast Queensland this afternoon. Picture: David Clark