Severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are expected to affect most Australian states this weekend, compounding the existing flooding in already saturated Queensland.
Flash flooding in south‑east Queensland earlier this week triggered numerous SES rescues and led to the closure of several schools. As of Saturday morning, the Bureau of Meteorology had issued nine flood warnings for south Queensland.
The Bureau of Meteorology now warns of severe thunderstorms, heavy rain and flash flooding across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.
Senior meteorologist David Crock of the Bureau of Meteorology forecast severe thunderstorms and heavy rain for central and eastern Queensland on Saturday, affecting locations such as Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg, the Sunshine Coast hinterland and Roma.
Severe storms are also possible in parts of Victoria, including Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and central‑eastern South Australia, while heavy rain is expected to develop in Tasmania overnight into Sunday morning.
Crock noted that the south‑east region is experiencing abundant rain, along with showers and storms across much of Queensland, following an already wet week.
A cold front is expected to move across New South Wales on Sunday, bringing severe thunderstorms to western NSW as well as north‑eastern Victoria, Sydney and Brisbane.
He warned that thunderstorms are likely across eastern Australia tomorrow, with severe storms expected over a broad swath of inland eastern regions.
This week, several Queensland locations recorded more than double their average October rainfall over just a few days.
Crock described the week as exceptionally wet, noting that such precipitation is more characteristic of summer months or the months of January and February than of the current season.
Flash flooding impacted the Sunshine Coast hinterlands and Caboolture, with seven‑day rainfall totals ranging from 300 to 400 mm, and some areas reaching up to 450 mm.
Crock highlighted the persistence of the weather pattern, the significant moisture influx, and the accumulation of rainfall over seven to ten days across Queensland and northern New South Wales.
On Thursday, torrential rain in south‑east Queensland triggered flash flooding, numerous water rescues and a high volume of emergency calls, while several schools were forced to close on Friday.
The heavy rain extended from Caboolture to the Border Ranges on Thursday, with certain locations recording rainfall exceeding 200 mm.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services performed more than 16 swift‑water rescues, including using a raft to rescue an elderly man clinging to the roof of his vehicle in Caboolture.
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