GIANT HAILSTONES AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS TO PUMMEL EAST COAST: ‘Really Strong’ Cold Front Brings Chaos to NSW and Queensland
- The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for NSW and Queensland, with giant hailstones and damaging winds of up to 125km/h expected to hit the east coast.
- BOM meteorologist Sarah Scully warns of ‘giant sized hail’ with a diameter of greater than five centimeters, which could cause damage to vehicles and property.
- The wild weather is expected to bring travel disruptions, power outages, and flash flooding, with the mid north coast of NSW and the Hunter region to be hit the hardest.
Australia’s east coast is bracing for a wild weather weekend, with a ‘really strong’ cold front and associated low pressure system expected to bring giant hailstones and destructive winds. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for NSW and Queensland, with the mid north coast of NSW and the Hunter region to be hit the hardest.
‘It is worth noting that giant sized hail is possible, and that is hail with a diameter of greater than five centimeters,’ warned BOM meteorologist Sarah Scully. ‘The community impacts could include damage to vehicles and property from the large to giant hailstorm, as well as travel disruptions and delays due to hazardous driving conditions with water across roads and highways.’
The severe thunderstorms are expected to hit all the way from the Kimberleys in Western Australia right through to Brisbane and Sydney on the east coast. Brisbane and Sydney are also bracing for storms, although they are likely to be more subdued than the weather forecasted for the mid north coast.
‘Within this area, there is potential for damaging winds of more than 90kms per hour, hail with a diameter of more than 2cms or flash flooding,’ Ms Scully said. ‘Power outages are possible with powerlines coming down.’
The wild weather is expected to end on Sunday, although lighter thunderstorms are still forecasted for northern NSW and south east Queensland. Melbourne will be spared most of the wild weather, although it is expected to receive between 15-30mm of rain.
‘It will be a much calmer day on Sunday, with lighter thunderstorms expected across the east coast,’ Ms Scully said. ‘But we’re not out of the woods yet, with the potential for more severe thunderstorms still possible.’
Australians are advised to stay indoors and avoid travel unless necessary, with the severe weather expected to cause disruptions and damage across the east coast.