Overview
- The Bureau of Meteorology has active very dangerous thunderstorm warnings, with large hail up to 7 cm reported around Laidley and Redcliffe and thousands of power outages on the Sunshine Coast and in Logan.
- Saturday is expected to be the most active day, with severe thunderstorms likely across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and into north-east New South Wales, intensifying through the afternoon and evening.
- Hazards include giant hail over 5 cm, destructive wind gusts above 125 km/h and life-threatening flash flooding, with isolated tornadoes not ruled out, particularly from the South Burnett through the Sunshine Coast Hinterland to the Scenic Rim and around Toowoomba and Warwick.
- Emergency services urge residents to stay indoors during storms, avoid driving unless necessary, secure loose items, and park vehicles under cover away from trees.
- A northwest cloudband and a developing low could deliver widespread rain to Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania early next week, with a wet Melbourne Cup day possible but uncertain, while severe heatwave conditions persist in northern Queensland with temperatures near 40–42C.