People in Sydney, Brisbane and nearby areas have been urged to brace for powerful thunderstorms on Tuesday night.
The Bureau of Meteorology released a severe weather warning for southeast Queensland at about 4.40pm, followed by an alert for the Sydney region at around 6.20pm.
Forecasters cautioned southeast Queensland residents about destructive winds, intense rain and the possibility of exceptionally large hail.
In Sydney, the main threat is heavy rainfall capable of triggering flash flooding, while several other parts of New South Wales face the risk of large hailstones.
The Bureau said unstable atmospheric conditions could produce “rapid severe thunderstorms” across eastern NSW and southeast Queensland.
The broader NSW districts covered by the warning include the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, parts of the Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes, Northern Tablelands, South Coast, Central West Slopes and Plains, as well as the Australian Capital Territory.
In Queensland, the warning applies to the Scenic Rim, Southern Downs, Western Downs, South Burnett, Central Highlands and Coalfields, Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett, Darling Downs and Granite Belt, and the Southeast Coast districts.
The Bureau also warned that Woorabinda, west of Rockhampton, could experience “giant hail”.
Thunderstorm clouds building over Sydney, viewed from Fairfield
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Tuesday evening warning for parts of NSW
A powerful hailstorm begins to form over parts of Queensland
Sydney
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Max 25. Min 17.
Thursday: Shower clearing. Max 22. Min 16.
Friday: Sunny. Max 24. Min 15.
Melbourne
Wednesday: A late shower. Max 23. Min 10.
Thursday: Shower clearing. Max 18. Min 10.
Friday: Late shower. Max 23. Min 10.
Cloud cover over Mt Druitt in western Sydney (credit: SES Mt Druitt Facebook)
Brisbane
Wednesday: Sunny. Max 33. Min 20.
Thursday: Sunny. Max 36. Min 19.
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Friday: Mostly sunny. Max 27. Min 19.
Perth
Wednesday: Sunny. Max 27. Min 11.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Max 29. Min 13.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Max 31. Min 15.
Storm clouds hang over Sydney’s CBD at about 7pm on Tuesday
Adelaide
Wednesday: Showers easing. Max 21. Min 13.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Max 20. Min 11.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Max 22. Min 11.
Hobart
Wednesday: A late shower. Max 21. Min 10.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Max 20. Min 8.
Friday: A possible shower. Max 18. Min 12.
Floodwater in the Stocklands car park at Wetherill Park, NSW (credit: SWmsSW01 Facebook)
Canberra
Wednesday: Fog clearing to sunshine. Max 24. Min 9.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Max 21. Min 7.
Friday: Fog clearing to sunshine. Max 23. Min 4.
Darwin
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Max 36. Min 27.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Max 35. Min 27.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Max 35. Min 27.
