Severe thunderstorms have been forecast for parts of southeast Queensland and northern News South Wales, as heatwave conditions continue to scorch parts of the country.
The Bureau of Meteorology released a forecast for severe thunderstorms which are likely for southern parts of the Gold Coast, Scenic Rim & Border Ranges, including northern NSW on Friday.
BOM said that severe thunderstorms are likely to bring large hail, damaging winds, heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding.
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The storms come as the state grapples with a severe heatwave, with the Queensland Health Department issuing an emergency health warning on Thursday, urging people to stay indoors and check on elderly family, friends and neighbours.
“It’s been very warm in Queensland,” Meteorologist Angus Hines said. “Friday will be another hot day across the state.”
Hines said temperatures in Queensland are as much as “5 to 7Cs above usual” for the time of year along the east coast and the eastern interior.
“We do expect to see some showers develop across the southeast as well, with possible thunderstorms,” he said.
“We could even see some severe thunderstorms through some southern areas.”
Hines said that storms are looking most likely around the Scenic Rim and the Border Ranges, but potentially could spread through other parts of south-eastern Queensland through the afternoon hours.
“If those storms do develop, expect areas of heavy rain and damaging wind gusts,” he said.
“Showers and storms are (also) expected around north-eastern New South Wales during Friday afternoon, with the possibility of severe storms bringing heavy rain, damaging wind or large hail to the Northern Rivers and Northern Tablelands.”