Severe storms and large hail hit south-east Queensland as warnings remain in place

Dangerous thunderstorms swept across south-east Queensland on Monday night, bringing large hail, heavy rain and the risk of flash flooding to several communities. The storms affected areas from north of Maryborough to northern New South Wales, with hail reported on roads in Maryborough and heavy rainfall recorded further south. Warnings remained in place late on Monday for parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Wide Bay and Burnett, and the Darling Downs and Granite Belt.

The Bureau of Meteorology said more than 50 millimetres of rain fell in 30 minutes at Cooroy on the Sunshine Coast, underlining the intensity of the storm line. In Hervey Bay, a resident described his front lawn as looking as if it had been covered with golf balls after the storm passed. Senior forecaster Angus Hines said the weather system could bring significant damage, including large hail, wind damage and flash flooding.

The bureau also warned that Tuesday could bring more extreme weather across much of south-east Queensland. It said very dangerous storm cells could produce one or two brief and short-lived tornadoes, adding to the risk already posed by hail and intense rainfall. The warnings covered a broad stretch of the state, showing that the system was not limited to a single town or district.

The event matters because severe thunderstorms in Queensland can quickly disrupt transport, damage property and create dangerous driving conditions, especially when hail accumulates on roads and heavy rain falls in a short period. Flash flooding is a particular concern in fast-moving storm systems, where water can rise before emergency services or residents have much time to respond. The mention of possible brief tornadoes also indicates a more volatile weather pattern than an ordinary thunderstorm outbreak.

Queensland regularly faces severe storm seasons, and the current system fits a pattern of intense convective weather affecting both inland and coastal communities. The areas named in the warnings, including Wide Bay and Burnett, the Darling Downs and Granite Belt, and the Central Highlands and Coalfields, are all exposed to fast-changing storm conditions when strong cells move through the state. The fact that warnings extended from north of Maryborough to northern New South Wales suggests a wide regional weather event rather than an isolated local storm.

What remains unclear is the full extent of any damage, injuries or disruption caused by the storms, as no such figures were confirmed in the supplied material. The key question for Tuesday is whether the severe thunderstorm warnings will be extended, upgraded or allowed to expire as the system moves on. Further official updates will be needed to confirm whether the forecast hail, wind damage or brief tornadoes materialise.

#Queenslandstorms #severethunderstormwarning #largehail #flashflooding #BureauofMeteorology