Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 1:36 pm Saturday, 30 December 2023.

VERY DANGEROUS STORMS EXTENDING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN CENTRAL HIGHLANDS & COALFIELDS AND NORTHERN DARLING DOWNS & GRANITE BELT.

Weather Situation: A weak southeasterly change is linking up with a very moist and unstable airmass to trigger scattered severe thunderstorms across the southeast this morning.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in the Wide Bay and Burnett and parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Maranoa and Warrego, Darling Downs and Granite Belt, Southeast Coast and Capricornia districts. Locations which may be affected include Maroochydore, Gympie, Kingaroy, Hervey Bay, K'gari, Cooroy, Nambour, Nanango and Rainbow Beach.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging, locally destructive winds, large, possibly giant hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Darling Downs and Granite Belt, Wide Bay and Burnett and Maranoa and Warrego districts. Locations which may be affected include Taroom and Injune.

North of Chinchilla observed GIANT HAIL, estimated about 6 cm around 12:30 pm.

Tara observed estimated 4-5 cm hailstones around 10 am.

93 km/h wind gust recorded at Gympie at 11:58 am.

Beerburrum recorded 110 mm of rainfall in the 2 hours to 11:00 am.

Landsborough recorded 67 mm of rainfall in the 30 minutes to 11:15 am.

Wamuran recorded 66 mm of rainfall in 1 hour to 9:19 am.

Cedar Pocket Dam recorded 64 mm in the 1 hour to 1:05 pm.

Eerwah Vale recorded 55 mm of rainfall in the 30 minutes to 12:00 pm.

Emergency services advise people to:
* If you have children make sure they are with you or an adult you trust.
* Pack away, secure or tie down outdoor furniture, toys and trampolines if it s safe to do so.
* Stay away from windows if there is giant hail.
* Park your car undercover away from trees.
* Close doors and windows.
* Keep asthma medications close by. Storms and wind can trigger asthma attacks.
* Charge mobile phones and power banks in case the power goes out.
* Put your pets somewhere safe and make sure they can be identified in case they get lost.
* Do not drive now unless you have to because conditions are dangerous.
* Tell friends, family and neighbours in the area.
* Go inside a strong building now. Stay inside until the storm has passed.