Queensland supercells in photos
A pair of supercell thunderstorms tore through the southern Wide Bay and Burnett District in southeast Queensland on Thursday afternoon.
One of the intense and severe thunderstorms prompted the Bureau of Meteorology to issue a rare tornado warning.
TORNADO WARNING ⚠�🌪� Very dangerous thunderstorms NW of Kilkivan - expected to continue tracking NE. Very large hail and destructive winds with tornado are expected within the core of these cells. Stay safe, follow @QldFES advice. #Gympie https://t.co/qCViE97dDe pic.twitter.com/UgKowwKIFF
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) October 11, 2018
The intense winds produced by this storm and its tornado caused a trail of damage to properties and vegetation across the region.
The tiny rural community of Tansey in the South Burnett hit by a tornado late this afternoon @ABCemergency #storm pics courtesy Sandra Jaschke pic.twitter.com/aHWnkORNWC
— Bruce Atkinson (@bruceatkinson17) October 11, 2018
Along with destructive winds, Thursday afternoon's supercell thunderstorms also cause heavy rain and large hail.
The irony of a hail storm. pic.twitter.com/j0FWoU7i9s
— michael dyer (@mmoldyer) October 11, 2018
While rain was welcomed by some farmers in southeast Queensland on Thursday, those in the path of these two supercells experienced significant crop damage.
Probably my favourite photo from checking the hail damage today. #stormlotto pic.twitter.com/9XY41iXssY
— John Alexander (@Wheatman01) October 11, 2018
Thursday's severe thundertorms developed as warm and moisture-laden air from the Coral Sea interacted with a low pressure trough. What made these particular storms so intense was the combinatoun of a very unstable atmosphere and an abrutp change in wind speed and direction with height, which is called wind shear.
Take care out there. We're seeing wild weather on the roads.
— Transport Main Roads (@TMRQld) October 11, 2018
This is the aftermath of a hailstorm on the Burnett Highway between Kingaroy and Blackbutt this afternoon.
Always check #QldTraffic and @BOM_Qld for the latest road and weather conditions: https://t.co/8JuY7Rtc9s pic.twitter.com/TaNN99DLyM
Severe thunderstorms are common in southeast Queensland during October. However, supercells that produce tornadoes certaintly aren't seen every year.