Severe thunderstorms with ‘giant’ hail tipped for SEQ on Christmas Eve

A very severe thunderstorm with possible giant hail and strong gusty winds capable of damaging property is forecast for south-east Queensland on Christmas Eve.

And less intense storms could extend into Christmas Day, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned.

The south-east corner will bear the brunt of the wild weather.Credit: Bureau of Meteorology

The wild storm warning was issued on Saturday afternoon as most people finalised their Christmas shopping and began travelling to their holiday destinations.

The bureau warned of “a very dangerous, severe thunderstorm with damaging wind gusts, heavy rainfall and large hail on Sunday”.

“Giant hail and intense rainfall are possible,” it said.

The area facing severe storms on Sunday afternoon ranges from Dalby and Toowoomba towards Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine coasts.

Severe storms triggered by hot weather are likely to begin on Sunday afternoon. Credit: Jorge Branco

It is likely to be more severe than the thunderstorm that caused significant power blackouts and damage through Moorooka and Acacia Ridge last Sunday.

Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said much of Queensland would experience thunderstorms on Christmas Eve, with very intense storms predicted for the south-east corner in the afternoon.

“It is really concentrated on the south-east corner, with a high risk of thunderstorms across the entire district,” Hines said.

“These storms can bring damaging or even destructive winds and very heavy rainfall, with flash flooding likely if the rainfall is intense for an hour or so.

“We are certainly looking at the risk of large or even giant-sized hail.”

Hines said the storms were likely to begin in the afternoon and be triggered by the hot weather.

Brisbane’s temperature will reach 30 degrees on Christmas Eve, rising to 33 on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day, the bureau predicts.

Large hail is predicted in parts of south-east Queensland on Sunday.Credit: Twitter

“Storms, by their nature, are a little bit hit and miss – there is no guarantee that everyone is going to be hit by one of these nasty storms – but it is certainly a risk right across south-eastern Queensland,” Hines said.

Homes could experience wind gusts up to 80km/h or 90km/h in some severe thunderstorm cells, he said, while rainfall of 50mm to 60mm was forecast with flash flooding likely.

“That’s on the cards, particularly with those strong storms. Eighty-kilometre-an-hour gusts are looking likely, and we may even see one or two stronger gusts up to 100km/h in fairly isolated areas.”

Hines warned of likely blackouts from fallen power lines as trees are damaged.

“Those strong, damaging wind gusts are a real possibility for these storms,” he said.

The State Emergency Service was advised of the forecast on Saturday, with crews set to be on standby if damage was reported.

North Queensland is still mopping up after Cyclone Jasper. The state and federal governments announced a $65 million package on Friday to help businesses and producers.

After horticultural advocacy group Growcom questioned why fruit growers could not apply for primary producers’ grants, the new minister for state development, Grace Grace, asked them to make a submission to her department for help.

“We definitely need to get those submissions into the government so we can identify some areas that may be missing out and, under the economic recovery plan, we can assist those operators,” she said.

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