Weather News

Severe storms fire up in QLD and NSW

Thunderstorms fired up across southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales on Thursday afternoon, bringing the potential for severe weather across a wide area.

The storms have been triggered by a surface trough of low pressure interacting with abundant low-level moisture and cool air in the upper atmosphere.

The abundant low-level moisture, combined with relatively light upper level winds resulting in slow storm movement, means that high rainfall totals are likely to accumulate from these storms.

Additionally, the cool and drier air in the middle levels of the atmosphere will lead to large hail being a chance from these storms. In fact, marble sized hail was reported from Stanthorpe at around 2pm EST.

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett, Darling Downs and Granite Belt and Southeast Coast districts warning of the potential for damaging wind, flash flooding and large hailstones.

Thunderstorms will be likely again on Friday, but are less likely to be severe due to lower levels of instability and higher moisture levels throughout the atmosphere.

Rainfall totals of up to 100mm are possible from these storms.

- Weatherzone

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