Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Southeast Coast and parts of North Tropical Coast and Tablelands, Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, North West, Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central West, Channel Country, Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett, Maranoa and Warrego, Darling Downs and Granite Belt, Peninsula and Herbert and Lower Burdekin Forecast Districts.

Issued at 8:31 pm Thursday, 18 January 2024.

Severe thunderstorms across the south and southeast as well as over the tropical north.

Weather situation: A trough is moving over southern Queensland with a very moist tropical airmass in place. Severe thunderstorms are ongoing this evening and are shifting gradually to the east. Another trough is producing slow-moving severe storms across the wet tropics.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Warwick, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Dalby, Maroochydore, Gympie, Cairns, Port Douglas, Kingaroy, Coolangatta and Ipswich.

Significant observations:

59 mm in the 1hr to 8:26 pm at Beaudesert

70 mm in the 2hrs to 7:39 pm at Mt Sugarloaf

77 mm in the 2hrs to 7:16 pm at Mount Isa Airport

81 mm in the 1hr to 6:35 pm at Mareeba

77 mm in the 1hr to 6:34 pm at Spicers Peak

52mm in the 1hr to 5:27pm at Dalby

Emergency services advise people to:
* Park your car undercover away from trees.
* Close doors and windows.
* Keep asthma medications close by. Storms and wind can trigger asthma attacks.
* Charge mobile phones and power banks in case the power goes out.
* Put your pets somewhere safe and make sure they can be identified in case they get lost.
* Do not drive now unless you have to because conditions are dangerous.
* Tell friends, family and neighbours in the area.
* Go inside a strong building now. Stay inside until the storm has passed.