Australian East Coast Braces for Severe Thunderstorms and Hail

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning for residents along the coast from the Illawarra region in New South Wales to Queensland's Wide Bay, stating that they are in the direct path of the approaching storms. The bureau's Queensland department tweeted that severe storms, including large hail, damaging winds, and heavy rain, are possible in southeast Queensland and the Wide Bay area, with a risk of dangerous storms further inland. Northern areas of the New South Wales ranges and adjacent coastal regions may also experience severe thunderstorms.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts that the stormy and wet weather is expected to persist for up to ten days, with central and eastern Australia facing the worst of it. Initially, rain and storms will impact central Australia, northern and western South Australia, and southern Western Australia until the end of this week. Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland might also experience some wet weather during this time. From the weekend onwards, an intensifying low pressure system will likely result in more active showers and thunderstorms over eastern Australia.

While Sydney is expected to endure some inclement weather on Thursday evening, it should clear up in time for the weekend. However, the wet and stormy conditions are set to continue into the first half of next week, affecting every state and territory in Australia. Heavy rainfall is expected in parts of New South Wales, Queensland, and central Australia. The weather service, Weatherzone, warns that some of the forthcoming thunderstorms may become severe, and heavy rain could potentially lead to flash flooding in certain regions.

Coinciding with this wet weather, central and inland Queensland is currently experiencing a severe heatwave. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts that central parts of Queensland will encounter severe heatwave conditions on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with temperatures reaching up to 8 degrees Celsius above the November average.

Tragically, a woman lost her life last Friday during catastrophic weather conditions in southeast Queensland. The 70-year-old was struck by a falling tree while walking in Lockyer Waters. Despite the efforts of paramedics to save her, she died at the scene. The severe weather in the Lockyer Valley also caused power outages affecting over 2,000 people as strong winds, heavy rain, and hail battered the area.