Gold Coast weather: giant hail, destructive winds and thousands without power as another round of storms looms

Bassyonni

ago 6 hours

Gold Coast weather

South-east Queensland is cleaning up after a bruising 24 hours that delivered giant hail up to 9 cm, damaging winds, and pockets of flash flooding from the Darling Downs to the coast. Crews worked through the night across Brisbane, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Logan and the Gold Coast, with thousands of homes losing power at the peak and scattered outages lingering into Sunday morning. Authorities warn the atmosphere remains unstable, with another window for severe storms late today.

What happened and where the damage is

Hail & wind: Supercells fired west of the range Saturday afternoon, then marched east across the Lockyer Valley and Somerset before sweeping into the metro. Reports included softball-size hail in Pratten, golf-ball to egg-size stones in towns such as Nobby, Clifton and Mt Walker, and wind gusts above 100 km/h recorded on the Downs.
Injuries: A community fair in Esk was smashed by hail as a cell crossed; multiple people were treated, with at least one serious head/neck injury taken to hospital.
Power: Thousands lost supply as hail-laden branches and lightning strikes brought lines down. Urban pockets in inner-north Brisbane, bayside suburbs and the peninsula were hit, with additional outages from South Burnett, Western Downs and Gympie to parts of the Wide Bay.
Calls for help: State emergency crews logged hundreds of requests, primarily for shattered skylights, torn roofing, water ingress and downed lines.

Today’s forecast at a glance (Sun)

Brisbane: Top near 29 °C with showers and the chance of a thunderstorm late afternoon/evening. Any storm could produce damaging winds, heavy rain and large hail.
Gold Coast: Warm with late storms possible; strong wind warnings likely for offshore waters into Monday.
Sunshine Coast & hinterland: Hotter inland; storm risk redevelops off the ranges toward evening.
(Queensland remains on AEST, UTC+10.)

Why the storms turned “very dangerous”

Forecasters flagged a classic severe setup: very warm, humid surface air, a trigger along the ranges, and strong upper-level winds to organize storms into rotating supercells. That combination maximizes risk for giant hail, destructive gusts, brief tornadoes and burst flooding under slow-moving cores. Saturday’s evolution ticked each box.

Gold Coast specifics: what to expect

While Saturday’s worst impacts were inland and north of the Coast, the city still saw intense lightning, short-lived downpours and localized outages. With another unstable afternoon ahead:

Beach conditions turn choppier Monday under freshening northerlies.
Storm outflows can flip winds abruptly; small craft should plan early returns and keep an eye on the western skyline.
If storms track the corridor from Beaudesert/Scenic Rim toward the shoreline, exposed suburbs from Upper Coomera to Southport and Broadbeach can see sudden hail and squalls.

If storms redevelop this afternoon: do this now

Protect vehicles and windows: Move cars under cover; pull outdoor furniture, shade sails and trampolines in; close curtains and blinds to limit glass shatter risk.
Power safety: Treat every fallen wire as live. Keep well clear, call emergency services, then your outage line.
On the road: If caught in hail, pull under solid shelter. Avoid parking under trees; never enter floodwater.
Pets & livestock: Shelter early—hailstorms are loud and chaotic for animals.
Stay plugged in (before you can’t): Charge phones and power banks; have a torch and spare batteries ready.

If your power is out

Switch off sensitive appliances; leave one light on to know when supply returns.
Keep fridges/freezers closed—a full freezer can hold safe temps for 24–48 hours.
Log the outage via your utility’s outage finder for updates and restoration estimates.
After restoration, check for water-affected switchboards or appliances before use.

Bushfire and air-quality notes

Outflow winds and lightning sparked a handful of grass and bush fires on Saturday. Early Sunday air quality across the metro sat in the good–fair range but can deteriorate quickly near active fire or if gust fronts kick up debris. Those with respiratory conditions should keep reliever medication handy and follow health guidance if smoke increases.

Travel, sport and events

Roads: Expect debris—leaf litter, branches, and hail slush—making surfaces slick, especially on secondary routes and shaded hills.
Public transport: Isolated delays are possible where overheads or signals were affected.
Airports: Brief weather holds are possible this afternoon if new cells fire along the approach corridors.
Community events: Outdoor fixtures should have a shelter plan and a way to reach crowds quickly if warnings escalate.

Timeline recap

Sat early afternoon: Cells ignite on the Darling Downs/Granite Belt; giant hail confirmed west of Toowoomba.
Late afternoon–evening: Supercells intensify east of the range, driving very dangerous warnings into Somerset, Ipswich and Brisbane; peak outages recorded and hail injuries reported.
Overnight: Cleanup and restorations continue; lingering showers and lightning skirt the coastal fringe.
Sun morning: Most warnings ease; renewed risk flagged for late Sunday as instability lingers.

Practical checklist before 3 p.m.

Clear gutters near key entry points; place towels where past leaks occurred.
Photograph any damage for insurance before temporary fixes.
Bring pets inside; locate carriers and leads.
Park under cover; fold in vehicle mirrors.
Review your family’s text/meeting point if you’re split up when a warning hits.

Signals to act on immediately

Severe or “very dangerous” thunderstorm warnings for your district.
Radar showing hooked or splitting cells tracking toward your suburb.
Verified reports of giant hail or destructive winds in upstream towns along your storm track.
Sudden temperature drop, gust front arrival, and a fast-darkening sky.

Looking ahead

Storm chances persist into Monday and mid-week as heat and humidity rebuild. Coastal waters trend windier with fresh to strong northerlies; inland heat will prime another round of afternoon convection Tuesday. Keep your severe-weather alerts on, refresh the forecast through the day, and make preparations now—so the next burst finds you ready, not rushing.