Severe Storms and Showers to Hit Queensland This Week

Queensland is bracing for a week of unsettled weather, with most of the state expected to experience showers and storm activity. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that some regions are on alert for severe storms, with the potential for warnings in the central and west of the state.

A high-pressure area in the Tasman Sea is expected to drive onshore winds and moisture into most of Queensland, causing showers and storm activity throughout the week. Senior meteorologist Steve Hadley said those already soaked regions could expect more rain.

"We expect there is going to be a high-pressure area in the Tasman Sea for much of the week driving onshore winds and moisture into most of Queensland," Mr Hadley said. "That could cause showers and storm activity through the week, changing day by day and across different parts, but I think most of the state is going to see some rainfall this week."

Record-breaking rain was observed at three different gauges in Queensland over the weekend. October rainfall records were broken at three central-west Queensland sites in the 24 hours to 9am on Saturday morning. One-hundred-and-two millimetres was recorded at Tullinar Station near Blackall, breaking an 87-year record. 101mm was recorded at Muttaburra, breaking its 72-year record, and 93mm in the gauge at Nive Downs near Charleville saw the station's 46-year record tumble.

Mr Hadley said central and western Queensland were in focus again on Monday, with storms expected.

"Around Winton, Longreach and Windorah again is where we are possibly going to see severe thunderstorm activity this afternoon and this evening," he said. "We could see some heavy bursts of rainfall with that, and we could see some damaging wind gusts as well, so there will potentially be warnings."

Mr Hadley also warned that storms were possible along the coast from Cooktown to Mackay, including Cairns and Townsville.

"In terms of rainfall totals though, probably nothing warning-worthy," he said. "In some areas along the east coast, including the south-east, we could see up to 10 to 30mm and possibly the odd 50mm or more."

The bureau said dry conditions were expected to return to Queensland in late October, before what was likely to be a warmer-than-average summer. Some central Queensland regions barely reached 20 degrees Celsius over the weekend, with temperatures plummeting 10 degrees below average due to cloud cover and rain.