Supercell hailstorm declared ‘catastrophic’ – as fresh weather warnings are issued for southeast Queensland and 45,000 homes without power
Queenslanders who faced an ‘insurance catastrophe’ hailstorm event on Monday are being warned to prepare for more bouts of poor weather.
Severe thunderstorms with large hailstones, damaging winds and heavy rainfall again hit parts of Ipswich, Logan, Somerset, Southern Downs, Western Downs, South Burnett and Toowoomba on Tuesday night.
The system hit Laidley, Dalby and Crows Nest by 9pm and Boonah, Esk and Gatton by 9.30pm, the Bureau of Meteorology advised.
Effects from the storm are set to last several hours, including widespread power outages. The Bureau said more storms are likely for the remainder of the week.
Damage caused by Monday’s storm alone saw more than 16,000 insurance claims lodged across 140 postcodes in what was called an ‘insurance catastrophe’.
The massive storm cell moved up from the NSW border and tracked its way towards Central Queensland.
Wind gusts reached up to 135km/h and hail 12cm in size was recorded.
As of 10.45pm on Tuesday, 42,015 Energex customers were affected by ongoing power outages.
Areas of southeast Queensland hit by a large storm on Monday face more damaging weather on Tuesday night (pictured, damage on Tuesday)
Severe thunderstorms are forecast to hit parts of Ipswich, Logan, Somerset, Southern Downs, Western Downs, South Burnett and Toowoomba (pictured, warning forecast map for Tuesday)
Severe weather stops play during day three of the Sheffield Shield match between Queensland and Victoria at The Gabba
Hailstones reaching up to 12cm in size were recorded on Monday (pictured, hailstones from the storm)
‘In Queensland, we are expecting thunderstorms across much of the state again today. The focus really is across the southeast of the state,’ Bureau senior meteorologist Jonathan How said on Tuesday.
‘We may see severe thunderstorms develop this afternoon and this could produce heavy rainfall and large hail all the away from southern parts of the states, from the Gold Coast Scenic Rim up towards Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and the Wide Bay area.
‘And Brisbane again could see severe thunderstorms bringing large hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall and this could impact places that were impacted quite heavily last night.’
Flash flooding could occur as the storm moves east toward Brisbane and the Gold Coast, where heavy rain has already soaked local catchments.
The Bureau advised people in affected areas to park cars away from trees, close doors and windows, keep asthma medications nearby, charge mobile phones and power banks, bring pets somewhere safe, avoid driving, inform loved ones of the storm, and shelter in a strong building.
A wider severe thunderstorm warning was issued on Tuesday night for parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central West, Wide Bay and Burnett, Maranoa and Warrego, Darling Downs and Granite Belt and Southeast Coast districts.
