Queensland has taken a lashing – and there’s more to come.

Key Points:

• BOM: “We’re in the midst of quite a significant storm outbreak right at the moment.”
• News.com.au reported that in less than one hour, many areas in Queensland recorded between 20 and 40mm of rainfall.
• If you’re in danger spots, “keep your head screwed on and stay up to date with the latest.”

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From around 5pm yesterday, the south-east corner of the state hosted a severe weather system that included thunderstorms, hail, torrential rain and damaging winds.

The extreme system rolled from the west, near Roma, to the coast.

According to Sky News, the weather included golf ball-sized chunks of hail, and it wiped out power to more than 15,000 homes.

“These storms are still pretty gnarly weather systems and still moving over large parts of eastern Australia,” the Bureau of Meteorology’s Angus Hines told ABC radio.

“We’re in the midst of quite a significant storm outbreak right at the moment.”

BOM: “We’re in the midst of quite a significant storm outbreak right at the moment.”

Flooding danger

The wild weather is forecast to continue later today in an area from the Capricornia coast in central Queensland down to the south-east.

“The key message is it’s not finished yet,” Mr Hines said yesterday.

“Over the next several hours through this afternoon into this evening we still expect these storms to continue to develop and move across eastern parts of the country.”

News.com.au reported that in less than one hour, many areas in Queensland recorded between 20 and 40mm of rainfall.

Mr Hines said that was enough to lead to flash flooding.

As of around 9.45am this morning, the BOM had issued flood warnings for the Bremer River and Warrill Creek, and the Logan River.

“We’re really into the thick of it now,” Mr Hines said.

“Late spring and early summer … that’s the prime time for stormy weather across eastern Australia.”

In less than one hour, many areas in Queensland recorded between 20 and 40mm of rainfall.

Stay smart

While storm systems have developed across Australia this week, Mr Hines said the Sunshine State would be the hardest hit.

The storms “are starting on the coast, just south of Bundaberg, around Maryborough, up to inland spots like Roma and Charleville, down to the southern border and to the southeast coast as well,” Mr Hines said.

“If you’re in this part of the country tomorrow, keep your head screwed on and stay up to date with the latest.”

Sky News Meteorologist Alison Osborne said this afternoon’s storm could include hail that was “grape-sized or larger”.

This afternoon, “shower and storm activity is likely to redevelop,” she reported.

If you’re in danger spots, “keep your head screwed on and stay up to date with the latest.”

Watch the radar

The Bureau reported that both a “moist air mass” and a surface trough were creating the unstable conditions.

Meteorologist Jonathan How told 7 News that people living within the affected area should stay informed.

“We’re telling people that if you live in these areas to keep an eye on the radar and the warnings today and tonight,” he said.

“We also have the potential for very dangerous thunderstorms and that extends from Maroochydore in the Sunshine Coast over to Kingaroy, back down to the Darling Downs, Dalby, Toowoomba, and down towards Stanthorope and down into far north NSW in Casino, Balina and Byron Bay.”

For Queensland weather warnings visit here.

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Feature image: Photo by CanvaPro