A mini twister has been filmed sweeping across Brisbane amid wild weather bringing severe thunderstorms and giant hail to parts of Queensland. The gustnado, which is a small whirlwind different to that of a tornado, was seen on the Brisbane River at Kangaroo Point amid dangerous winds and heavy rain on Friday afternoon. The weather phenomenon was captured by Channel Seven weather presenter Tony Auden.
'From what I can tell this isn't a fully fledged tornado, but more likely a 'gustnado' that is a more transient feature on the leading edge of the storm. Still looked like it had some strong winds in it though!' he wrote on X. The severe weather in Kangaroo Point saw a tree fall down and strike a 22-year-old man, leaving him with ankle and head injuries.
Several weather warnings are in place for eastern parts of the state including a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Gympie, the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay. Residents are told to expect damaging winds and hailstones up to 7cm wide. 'A moist and unstable airmass combined with a southeasterly wind change moving up the coast is leading to the development of severe thunderstorms through southeast Queensland,' the Bureau of Meteorology said.
'Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and large hailstones over the next several hours in parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett and Southeast Coast districts.' The BOM said hailstones as large as 7cm in diameter were spotted in Flagstone, in Logan, just after 3pm on Friday.
Cooroy, in Noosa's hinterland, recorded 99mm of rain in just 24 hours. Meteorologists have warned of more storms on Saturday for Queensland but the weather is expected to ease by Sunday.
The Wild Weather in Detail
The severe thunderstorms that swept across Queensland on Friday afternoon brought a variety of weather phenomena, including the mini-tornado on the Brisbane River. The Bureau of Meteorology reported that the storms were caused by a moist and unstable airmass combined with a southeasterly wind change moving up the coast. The storms brought damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and large hailstones, with some hailstones reaching up to 7cm in diameter.
The storms were particularly severe in the Sunshine Coast region, where the Bureau of Meteorology recorded 5-8cm hail at Black Mountain near Cooroy. Locals around the Sunshine Coast posted photos of golf ball-sized hail and bigger. Hail larger than 5cm in diameter is considered ‘giant’. Cooroy also received 98mm of rain in just 24 hours, while other parts of the region received falls of about 40-80mm.
The Impact of the Storms
The storms caused significant damage and disruption across Queensland. In Kangaroo Point, a tree fell down and struck a 22-year-old man, leaving him with ankle and head injuries. The storms also caused power outages for thousands of homes, with about 4000 properties around the Sunshine Coast losing power.
The Forecast for the Weekend
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that more storms are expected across eastern Queensland on Saturday. However, the weather is expected to ease by Sunday. Residents are advised to stay aware of the latest weather warnings and take precautions to stay safe during the storms.
A Halloween to Remember
While the wild weather may have put a damper on Halloween plans for some, it certainly provided a memorable experience for many Queenslanders. From the mini-tornado to the giant hail, the storms were a reminder of the power of nature and the importance of being prepared for unexpected weather events.
