Brisbane residents are being urged to prepare for possible severe thunderstorms this weekend, with forecasters warning that the first weekend of November could bring another burst of damaging weather across South East Queensland. The western suburbs, badly hit by a hailstorm a few days ago, are once again on alert for another bout of bad weather.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), Saturday, 1 November, is expected to be humid, unsettled and potentially dangerous. There’s a very high chance of rain (around 90%) and a risk of severe thunderstorms from late morning through to the evening. These storms could produce damaging winds, heavy rain and hail, and the BoM has cautioned that flash flooding is possible in some areas.
Conditions are forecast to ease on Sunday, though showers and the chance of thunderstorms remain in the outlook.
Storm chasers flag “high potential” for intense cells
Independent weather pages CyclonesOZ and Higgins Storm Chasing have highlighted a potentially volatile setup for Saturday, especially for inland parts of southern Queensland stretching from the Darling Downs through to the South Burnett and Scenic Rim.
CyclonesOZ notes that a “potent mix” of instability, humidity and wind shear could lead to widespread thunderstorm activity, beginning inland after midday and spreading towards the coast through the afternoon. While the group mentions the possibility of supercell storms capable of large hail, destructive winds and isolated tornadoes, these remain low-probability but high-impact scenarios.
Higgins Storm Chasing’s forecast map shows a similar corridor of potential severe activity from Rockhampton to the Gold Coast, warning of large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain. Both forecasters stress that not all areas will be affected, but that any storm that does form could become dangerous quickly.
What the Bureau of Meteorology says
The BofM has issued a very dangerous thunderstorm warning for parts of South East Queensland, including Brisbane, as several storm cells continue to develop across the region. The bureau’s latest alert covers areas stretching from the coast through to the Wide Bay, Burnett, Darling Downs and Granite Belt regions, where conditions are favourable for large to possibly giant hailstones, destructive winds and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding.
Locations identified as being at risk include Toowoomba, Brisbane, Ipswich, Cleveland, Maroochydore, Gympie, Kingaroy, Gatton, Jimboomba and Caboolture.
By late Friday, the BoM had issued multiple severe storm warnings as several systems swept across South East Queensland, cutting power to around 8,000 homes and prompting alerts for parts of the coast, Wide Bay, Burnett, Darling Downs and Granite Belt.
Large hailstones and damaging winds were reported in Toowoomba, Gatton and parts of the Sunshine Coast, while destructive gusts and giant hail up to 7 cm in diameter were detected near Laidley, Mulgowie, Redcliffe and Grandchester. Brisbane, Ipswich, Cleveland, Maroochydore and Caboolture were also named among areas that could be affected as storms track eastward.
BoM meteorologists said the weekend would remain unstable, with Saturday likely to see the most severe conditions as multiple systems converge over the southeast.
BoM meteorologist Jordi Cairol said Saturday is shaping up to be “the most dangerous day” of the weekend, warning of a continued risk of heavy rainfall, large to giant hail and destructive winds across a broad swathe of the region. He added that some areas could receive up to 40 mm of rain, with isolated pockets seeing totals as high as 100 mm.
While the risk of supercells and isolated tornadoes cannot be completely ruled out, the bureau is focused on the more widespread threats of hail, flash flooding and damaging winds. Rainfall totals of up to 40 mm are expected across much of the region, with isolated pockets potentially reaching up to 100 mm.
In short, while the storm chasers’ outlooks point to a stronger-than-usual outbreak, the BoM emphasises uncertainty — advising residents to remain alert for potential severe storm impacts, but not alarmed.
Be ready, just in case
Following the hailstorm that hit western Brisbane earlier this week, emergency services are reminding households to take simple precautions now rather than wait for warnings.
- Secure outdoor items like furniture and trampolines before Saturday afternoon.
- Park cars under cover to protect against hail.
- Clean gutters and drains to reduce local flooding risk.
- Prepare an emergency kit with essentials in case of power outages.
- Stay up to date by checking BoM’s warnings page or the BoM Weather app, and tuning in to local news and radio.
Outlook summary
- Friday (31 Oct): Storms possible from central to southern Queensland, increasing in intensity inland.
- Saturday (1 Nov): Most active day for storm development — high humidity, heat and instability could trigger severe thunderstorms.
- Sunday (2 Nov): Showers and a few lingering storms, easing through the evening.
While not every suburb will see severe weather, the combination of heat, moisture and instability means that conditions are ripe for sudden, powerful storms. Authorities are urging residents to take the forecasts seriously, prepare early, and stay weather-aware across the weekend.
Published 31-October-2025