Unsettled week for Queensland with storms and showers forecast

In short:

The Bureau of Meteorology says Queensland is facing a week of unsettled weather with most of the state to experience shower activity. 

Some regions are on alert for storms with the bureau flagging the potential for warnings in the central and west of the state today. 

Rainfall records tumbled at three Queensland stations at the weekend, while cooler-than-average conditions were enjoyed in the interior. 

Queensland is facing a week of unsettled weather with showers expected for most of the state and continued storm activity.

The Bureau of Meteorology observed record-breaking rain at three different gauges in Queensland at the weekend.

Senior meteorologist Steve Hadley said those already soaked regions could expect more rain.

"We expect there is going to be a high-pressure area in the Tasman Sea for much of the week driving onshore winds and moisture into most of Queensland," Mr Hadley said.

"That could cause showers and storm activity through the week, changing day by day and across different parts, but I think most of the state is going to see some rainfall this week."

Records tumble

October rainfall records were broken at three central-west Queensland sites in the 24 hours to 9am Saturday morning.

One-hundred-and-two millimetres was recorded at Tullinar Station near Blackall breaking an 87-year record, 101mm was recorded at Muttaburra breaking its 72-year record and with 93mm in the gauge at Nive Downs near Charleville that station's 46-year record tumbled.

Mr Hadley said central and western Queensland were in focus again on Monday with storms expected.

"Around Winton, Longreach and Windorah again is where we are possibly going to see severe thunderstorm activity this afternoon and this evening," he said.

"We could see some heavy bursts of rainfall with that, and we could see some damaging wind gusts as well, so there will potentially be warnings."

Mr Hadley said storms were also possible along the coast from Cooktown to Mackay including Cairns and Townsville.

"In terms of rainfall totals though, probably nothing warning-worthy," he said.

"In some areas along the east coast, including the south-east, we could see up to 10 to 30mm and possibly the odd 50mm or more."

Mr Hadley said minimal storms were expected in the south-east but there might be pockets of lightning in Maryborough, the Wide Bay and Burnett and the Granite Belt.

Cooler for now

The bureau said dry conditions were expected to return to Queensland in late October before what was likely to be a warmer-than-average summer.

Mr Hadley said some central Queensland regions barely reached 20 degrees Celsius at the weekend with temperatures plummeting 10 degrees below average due to cloud cover and rain.

The mercury in Lochington, in the central highlands, peaked at 18C on Saturday, the region's lowest October maximum since records began in 2010.