Another severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of Queensland, as the recovery continues from ex-cyclone Jasper in the far north.

December 25, 2023

Queenslanders are hunkering down amid Christmas Day warnings for large hailstones, torrential rain and possible flash flooding.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued two severe thunderstorm warnings on Monday for parts of the southern interior and the north of the state.

The alerts affect the Darling Downs and Granite Belt and parts of Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, Central West, Maranoa and Warrego and Central Highlands and Coalfields Forecast districts.

Winds over 125 km/h have been recorded at Charleville.

Southern towns, including Roma, Stanthorpe, Goondiwindi, St George, Mitchell and Tara, have been warned that “severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours”.

In the north, severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds over the next few hours, with warnings issued to Pentland, Torrens Creek and Lyndhurst Station.

The bureau said a deepening surface trough continues to track eastwards across Queensland, with support from a broad upper trough enhancing showers and thunderstorms.

Severe thunderstorms are developing along this trough and will gradually move eastwards throughout the afternoon and evening.

Overnight, some areas near the NSW border recorded hail 10cm in diameter and hundreds of people lost power on Christmas Day after the severe weather impacted infrastructure.

A trough over western Queensland will deepen and move slowly east across the central and the southern part of the state over the next few days.

Further north, the clean-up after ex-tropical cyclone Jasper and flooding continues although Deputy Premier Cameron Dick urged travellers to continue with plans to visit the region.

Overnight, five people were rescued after their vehicle went into flood water on Leichhardt Highway.

All were unhurt.

Disaster Recovery Minister Nikki Boyd said visitors could play their part in the recovery by heeding directions from emergency personnel.

“We have thousands of QFES staff and volunteers working over the festive season and the best gift we can give them, is to keep ourselves safe as we celebrate with loved ones,” she said.

“My thoughts are also with Queenslanders impacted by floods in Far North Queensland and everyone who is working to help communities get back up and running.”

More than 4200 property damage assessments have been completed since Jasper delivered heavy rain and damaging winds.

Twelve homes have been confirmed destroyed, 126 properties are severely damaged and 554 moderately so.

Close to 9000 residents have received financial assistance payments.