Qld weather: 90+km/h winds, large hail as first of two storm troughs set to lash the South East

Almost half of the entire state is facing the prospect of thunderstorms, with severe storms that could deliver damaging winds and large hail a possibility in an area covering 39,000sq km.

Severe storms set to lash South East Queensland on Thursday. Picture: Chris Darbyshire

Severe thunderstorms with wind gusts of more than 90km/h and large hail a possibility for a 39,000sq km area of Queensland on Thursday, but Brisbane may be spared the brunt of the system.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast severe storms from this afternoon across the Darling Downs and Granite Belt, Wide Bay and Burnett and up to Central Queensland, with warnings of damaging winds and hail.

Parts of the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast are also tipped to see stormy activity, with a band of possible storms stretching northwest from the NSW border all the way to the Gulf Country.

Western parts of the South East will see storms brew from about lunch time, the Bureau’s Patch Clapp said, with showers and storms expected well into the early hours of the morning.

“Later this evening from around 7pm onwards we will see these storms travel further south down through the southern parts of the Darling Downs like Toowoomba, Warwick, down through Stanthorpe and push toward the coast overnight,” Mr Clapp said.

Brisbane may avoid the brunt of the first trough, but more storms are set to make a return. Picture: David Clark

“There’s a broad area where we could see these severe storms, we’re not expecting them around Brisbane but the Sunshine Coast is on the cards this afternoon and so is the Gold Coast quite late tonight.”

Mr Clapp said a trough pushing off towards the east coast would deepen today, with the combination of instability in the atmosphere providing all the ingredients for these severe storms to develop.

“That instability is why we’re seeing that overnight storm activity that we don’t typically see,” he said.

While the damaging winds and hail are the main focus for the Bureau on Thursday, Mr Clapp said some areas could see rainfall in the double digits on Thursday afternoon.

Adding to the stormy conditions are sweltering temperatures across the state, with Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast heading for a top of 32C and some inland areas looking at 35C.

The Bureau of Meteorology's storm forecast for Thursday.

Mr Clapp said the trough is expected to move off the coast on Friday morning, leading to a more settled day for much of the South East.

However, come the end of the weekend a second trough tracking north from New South Wales is set to bring a series of showers and storms.

“There will be more of an inland focus on Sunday, but then we’re expecting those storms heading for South East Queensland on Monday bringing a little bit more moisture,” Mr Clapp said.

The Bureau has tipped Brisbane would see widespread showers from late Sunday and into next week.

Originally published as Qld weather: 90+km/h winds, large hail as first of two storm troughs set to lash the South East