SEQ residents caught off-guard in severe hailstorms

Brisbane, Logan and Ipswich residents were caught off-guard after unseasonal storms swept through on Friday causing traffic chaos and blanketing the regions with hail.

Severe stprms that slammed parts of South East Queensland on Friday are not expected to land again today, the weather bureau says.

Hail blanketed parts of Brisbane, Logan and Ipswich late on Friday forcing traffic to a standstill during the peak-hour rush home.

It was accompanied with lightning and strong winds with the wild weather catching many off-guard.

Today, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts just a 5 per cent chance of rain, with a top of 22C and a low of 10C. Sunday is expected to be the same, with a slightly warmer top of 23C.

Storms are not forecast.

Traffic came to a standstill across the southeast during peak hour.

Hail battered areas of South East Queensland.

Traffic on the Pacific Motorway came to a complete standstill in both directions near Greenslopes on Friday evening as a severe hailstorm swept across Brisbane, dramatically reducing visibility and forcing motorists to pull over.

An updated weather warning was issued from the Bureau of Meteorology at 5.36pm, warned of damaging winds and large hailstones.

Hail at Archerfield. Pic: Higgins Storm Chasing

The Bureau of Meteorology warned that, at 5:30pm, severe thunderstorms were likely to produce damaging winds and large hailstones near Wacol.

Hail and lightning battered Moorooka on Friday afternoon. Pic: Caitlin Smith

The storms were forecast to affect Brisbane CBD, Sunnybank Hills, Archerfield and Slacks Creek by 6pm and Cleveland, Caboolture, Victoria Point and Ormiston by 6:30pm.

Earlier, at 5.13pm the Bureau warned severe thunderstorms likely to produce damaging winds and large hailstones were detected near Ipswich and Redbank Plains.

Storms heading for Brisbane on Friday evening.

The thunderstorms detected at 5.13pm were forecast to affect Wacol by 5:40pm and Woodridge, Sunnybank Hills, Archerfield and Upper Brookfield by 6:10pm.

A separate warning stated that unstable conditions over southeastern parts of the state and a weak surface trough in the area had led to the development of isolated severe thunderstorms. The storms were detected moving to the east and northeast and were expected to continue into the early evening.

Hail blanketed yards in Oxley.

Hail fell at Oxley on Friday afternoon. Pic: Facebook

It follows a day of overcast skies and scattered showers across South East Queensland.

The weekend is forecast to be dry, before isolated showers return next week.

Hail at Laidley. Pic: Higgins Storm Chasing

Originally published as SEQ residents caught off-guard in severe hailstorms