Millions of Australians are bracing for a stormy start to 2024, with severe thunderstorms and a punishing heatwave forecasted to hit Queensland, including on New Year's Eve and New Year’s Day, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
The Bureau's data shows increasing potential energy driving thunderstorms across northeastern NSW, the Queensland coast, and the Cape York peninsula. Southeast Queensland has already felt the impact, with destructive winds, flash flooding, and large hailstones causing significant disruptions to traffic and flights, affecting thousands of residents.
The weekend saw "several waves of thunderstorms" strike the southeast corner of the state, bringing large hail, lightning, and heavy rain. A vehicle was hit by lightning on the Bruce Hwy at Burpengary, resulting in the driver being hospitalized in a stable condition. Another incident on the Sunshine Coast saw a man injured when lightning struck the excavator he was operating. He was subsequently taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital for monitoring.
Brisbane Airport is also experiencing delays as storms continue around Brisbane, prompting the airport to advise travelers to check flight statuses with airlines or on the airport's website.
Compounding the storm threat, a three-day heatwave is forecasted through New Year, with temperatures in western and central Queensland expected to reach the mid-40s. Residents in Brisbane City, Sunshine Coast, Somerset, Moreton Bay, and Toowoomba have been warned to prepare for power outages and advised to stay indoors, avoiding driving or parking under trees.
A flood watch has been issued for large parts of southeastern Queensland, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Gympie, Bundaberg, and Rockhampton, in anticipation of the heavy rainfall. Bundaberg experienced power outages after a lightning display just after sunset, with several suburbs losing power for around three hours on Saturday.
Power outages have already affected multiple Bundaberg suburbs, with some areas losing power for approximately three hours.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the wet weather to persist, with chances of thunderstorms and showers throughout the next week. The heaviest rainfalls are expected around Bundaberg, Gympie, Rockhampton, and Grafton, with potential accumulations exceeding 100mm. Queensland's east coast is forecast to receive totals exceeding 50mm, with isolated severe storms in Bundaberg and Gympie potentially driving those figures past 200mm from Saturday to Monday.
Authorities are urging residents and visitors to stay vigilant, keep updated with the latest weather reports, and take necessary precautions against the severe weather conditions. The ongoing storms and heatwave are likely to impact New Year's celebrations across the state, with safety precautions and preparedness being paramount for those planning to ring in the new year.
