Thunderstorms are currently sweeping through Australia’s east coast, bringing with them the threat of heavy rain, strong winds, and sizable hailstones.

These severe weather conditions are affecting a broad region, including areas of Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. The adverse weather is expected to persist over the weekend.

According to Angus Hines, a meteorologist from the Bureau of Meteorology, the likelihood of severe thunderstorms is particularly high in parts of Queensland.

“This is the area where severe thunderstorms are most probable today,” Hines explained. “We could witness significant weather impacts, such as giant hailstones measuring five centimeters or more, and destructive winds reaching speeds of 120 km/h or higher.”

Hines further detailed that the areas at risk for these extreme conditions include the western parts of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, extending into the hinterlands, Toowoomba, the Darling Downs, and across the southern border ranges into the northwestern slopes of New South Wales.

In NSW, the Bureau of Meteorology warns that severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and large hailstones in parts of Sydney, the Hunter region and the South Coast.

Warnings are also current for the north west slopes and plains and parts of the Northern Rivers, Illawarra, central tablelands, southern tablelands, central west slopes and plains, Snowy Mountains, northern tablelands and upper western forecast districts.