Warm spring conditions could give way to thunderstorms and hail in SEQ

Warm spring weather in south-east Queensland may lead to thunderstorms and hail this week, with temperatures expected to surpass 30 degrees Celsius in Brisbane, Ipswich, and Toowoomba on Monday. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Moreton Bay on Sunday. Forecaster Brandon Creagh predicts potential thunderstorms could affect regions south of Brisbane from Tuesday onwards, possibly bringing large hail to the Gold Coast and areas near the Granite Belt.

Creagh notes that storm activity may be slightly above average for October and advises not to rule out severe thunderstorms in Brisbane this week. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to persist across southern areas until Thursday, with rain amounts varying across the region, ranging from one to 20 millimetres for most of Queensland, and up to 50 millimetres during severe thunderstorms. The Gold Coast may experience rainfall totals of one to 20 millimetres, while far north Queensland could receive little to no rain.

Residents on the Gold Coast, such as Catherine Love, are planning to enjoy the current sunny weather and are not particularly concerned about the forecasted rain. Meanwhile, temperatures in Central Queensland are expected to hover around the mid-30s on average, with peak temperatures of 38C forecast for Mt Isa on Tuesday. However, as the week progresses, temperatures are anticipated to drop to the low-20s.

Although showers may make it feel cooler, the overall weather is expected to remain warm for the first half of the week, potentially cooling down below average for the second half.