Queensland weather service forecasts weekend storms across four states

The Bureau of Meteorology issued severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings for South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania on October 23. These forecasts add to existing alerts for southern Queensland, creating a weather system that spans the eastern seaboard.

Senior meteorologist David Crock stated that severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are expected at several locations in central and eastern Queensland on Saturday. The affected areas include Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg, the Sunshine Coast hinterlands, and Roma. Crock noted that the region has already experienced a very wet week.

The cold front is scheduled to cross New South Wales on Sunday. This movement will bring severe thunderstorms to the western part of the state, north-eastern Victoria, Sydney, and Brisbane. The meteorologist explained that the threat of thunderstorms would extend right across eastern Australia, with severe storms likely through a wide part of inland eastern Australia.

The weekend forecast follows a week of extreme rainfall in Queensland. Several areas received more than double their average October rainfall over just a few days. Crock described the conditions as much more typical of summer months, such as January or February, rather than late autumn.

The Sunshine Coast hinterlands and Caboolture recorded seven-day rainfall totals between 300mm and 400mm, with some areas reaching 450mm. Crock attributed the high totals to a persistent weather pattern that drew in large amounts of moisture over seven to 10 days across Queensland and northern New South Wales.

The heaviest falls occurred on Thursday, when torrential rain stretched from Caboolture south to the Border Ranges. Some locations received well over 200mm of rain. The downpour caused flash flooding, water rescues, and hundreds of calls for help to the State Emergency Service. Several schools were forced to close on Friday.

The Queensland fire department carried out more than 16 swift-water rescues during the event. In one incident, crews used a raft to reach an elderly man clinging to the roof of his vehicle at Caboolture.