Queenslanders are preparing for more wild weather chaos as a fresh flood and thunderstorm warning is issued for parts of the state.
The weather is also threatening to disrupt major clean up efforts in Queensland’s southeast and leave hundreds cut off.
A series of “very dangerous” thunderstorms have been forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology with hail showers predicted in the next 48 hours.
The most dangerous of these have been detected near Gatton, just east of Toowoomba, and Mulgowie.
Laidley, Hatton Vale and Marburg were predicted to be hit by thunder by 6:20am before the storms moved to Ipswich, Fernvale and Lowood at around 6:50am.
Winds of almost 100 km/h wind have already been recorded at Dalby, west of Brisbane, with giant hailstones also recorded in the area.
BOM had previously warned of an “unstable air mass” over South East Queensland which could lead to major thunderstorms in the area.
“Combined with strong winds in the upper atmosphere and the approach of an upper level trough from the west will lead to increasing chances of severe thunderstorms,” the bureau said.
“Initially, large hail and damaging winds will be the main potential hazards, but heavy rainfall will become more likely with clusters or bands of storms later tonight.”
Thunderstorms are still active remains across a number of districts including in the Wide Bay and Burnett, Darling Downs and Granite Belt and Southeast Coast.
Gympie, Somerset, South Burnett, Toowoomba and Sunshine Coast are also affected.
Similarly wild scenes have been recorded in New South Wales with severe weather and flooding hit Sydney and surrounds on Wednesday nigh.
Evacuation orders were issued for parts of the city’s west due to rapidly rising water levels.
Bureau meteorologist Dean Narramore said the biggest concern was Thursday morning, with severe weather warnings issued for heavy rainfall and damaging winds.
The warnings extend from the mid-north coast all the way towards the south coast.
“We could see hit and miss severe thunderstorms bringing heavy rain, damaging winds and possibly even large hail,” he told media on Wednesday.
“While it won’t be widespread and everywhere, isolated communities and those currently recovering from the flooding could have impact there as well.”
Gippsland, in Victoria, has State Emergency Service crews on standby for flooding as the rains which devastated NSW and Queensland head south.
