Hail, flood risk as storm hits but premier says state ready for disaster

Powerful storms are threatening hail and pockets of flash flooding in south-east Queensland.

Up to 40 millimetres of rain could hit isolated areas on Tuesday, stretching from the NSW border north to the Fraser Coast city of Maryborough, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

“Some of those storms this afternoon and this evening are likely to be severe, with large hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall,” senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said.

“With some of those storms, we could see flash flooding.”

The storms could impact a large geographic area along the state’s south-eastern coast, and be felt as far inland as Toowoomba.

On Tuesday, the strongest storms were expected to the west and north of Brisbane. Rain could continue throughout the week.

“Heavy rainfall is likely with these storms and they’re likely to continue through parts of Queensland for the next few days,” Narramore said.

He said the weather bureau would probably issue a warning on Tuesday afternoon.

The storms follow an extended dry spell in south-east Queensland.

With rain lashing the building, Premier David Crisafulli spoke from the Kedron Emergency Services Complex in Brisbane on Tuesday morning alongside ministers and heads of emergency teams to warn of a dangerous disaster season ahead.

“I’ve been involved in disaster preparation for a long period of time,” he said.

“I have never seen a state as well-prepared for a disaster season as what we are now.”

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