‘Destructive’: Millions of Aussies facing severe storm warning

Detailed summary

Millions of Australians are being warned of destructive winds, giant hail stones and flash flooding, as severe weather comes in over the weekend.

Millions of Australians will be in the firing line for a drenching as a band of rain, flash flooding, severe winds and possible hail as storms hit NSW and Queensland, over the next three days.

Parts of Queensland have already been pelted with more than 100mm of rain on Saturday, however the Bureau of Meteorology warns more is to come.

These storms are set to hit most of Queensland and eastern NSW east on Saturday, with

Sydney, Wollongong, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Moree, and up into Queensland in Warwick, Roma and Charleville all in the firing line.

“These storms may bring heavy rainfall, that could lead to flash flooding, damaging winds, hail with a diameter greater than 2cms, developing (Saturday) afternoon and this evening,” BOM meteorologist Sarah Scully said.

The storms are expected to reach Sydney on Saturday evening, before an “even bigger storm day” is expected on Sunday, with Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie warned of wild weather.

“Within this area, you could see giant-sized hail, with a diameter greater than 5cm, as well destructive wind gusts – in excess of 120 kilometres per hour,” Ms Scully said.

Severe thunderstorms are also possible for much of NSW and most of southern and southeastern Queensland.

On Monday, Gympie, Brisbane and South East Queensland and northern NSW are facing the likelihood of severe thunderstorms.

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