South East Queensland could be facing another dangerous bout of severe weather this weekend, with forecasters warning of large hail, damaging winds, and potential flash flooding across the region.
Queensland meteorologist Tony Auden says Saturday’s weather pattern carries “the right mix of ingredients” to trigger powerful thunderstorms, particularly across the Gold Coast hinterland, Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast.
“Right Mix of Ingredients” Could Spark Dangerous Storms
“We could potentially have the right mix of ingredients to trigger some dangerous cells,” Auden said. “There’s decent wind shear in the upper atmosphere, but my main concern is a wind change.”
The wind change, expected during the afternoon, could act as the main trigger for storm formation. Thunderstorms are forecast to begin over the Gold Coast hinterland before tracking towards Brisbane later in the day, and reaching the Sunshine Coast by evening.
Remembering Brisbane’s ‘Gap Storm’
Auden compared the setup to the infamous “Gap Storm” of 2008 - one of Brisbane’s worst natural disasters - which brought winds up to 130km/h, destroyed dozens of homes, and left over 230,000 households without power.
“On some occasions, when timed just right, these wind changes bring a complex interaction with sea breezes and the surrounding environment to cause thunderstorms to become really nasty,” Auden explained. “Researchers are still trying to fully understand this.”
The 2008 event and the November 2014 Brisbane storm - which caused more than $1 billion in damages - were both driven by similar atmospheric patterns.
Residents Urged to Prepare
While the Bureau of Meteorology says severe outcomes are not guaranteed, residents are urged to prepare ahead of potential storm activity.
“It’s well worth tidying up the yard, planning to get the car undercover, and keeping an eye on warnings through the afternoon and evening,” Auden advised.
Key Tips for Residents
- Secure outdoor furniture and loose items
- Move vehicles under cover
- Monitor updates from the Bureau of Meteorology
- Avoid driving through flooded roads
Forecasters will continue to monitor the situation closely, as the entire South East Queensland region remains “potentially in the firing line” for severe storms this weekend.
