Thunderstorms, Heavy Rain and Flash Floods Forecast Across Much of Australia

Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are forecast for most Australian states this weekend, adding to rainfall in Queensland, the north-eastern state that has already been drenched. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued warnings of storms, heavy rain and flash flooding for South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.

On Saturday morning nine flood warnings were in force for southern Queensland. Earlier this week, flash flooding in the state's south-east led to hundreds of callouts for the State Emergency Service (SES) and the closure of several schools.

The forecast

Bureau senior meteorologist David Crock said severe storms and heavy rain were expected on Saturday across several parts of central and eastern Queensland, including Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg, the Sunshine Coast hinterland and Roma. Storms could also hit parts of Victoria, including Melbourne's eastern suburbs, as well as central and eastern South Australia. In Tasmania, heavy rain is expected from Saturday night into Sunday morning.

On Sunday a cold front will cross New South Wales, bringing severe thunderstorms to the state's west, north-eastern Victoria, Sydney and Brisbane. Crock said the threat of storms on Sunday extends across eastern Australia.

Flooding in Queensland

This week several Queensland areas received more than twice their average October rainfall within a few days. Crock described the week as extremely wet and more typical of summer. The Sunshine Coast hinterland and Caboolture recorded 300–400mm over seven days, with some areas reaching 450mm.

On Thursday, rain stretched from Caboolture to the Border Ranges, with some places receiving well over 200mm. The Queensland fire department carried out more than 16 swift-water rescues, including using a raft to rescue an elderly man clinging to the roof of his vehicle at Caboolture.