Weather News
SE Qld residents warned on possible storm threat
Saturday November 22, 2008 - 10:18 EDT
The weather bureau says there is now around a 30 per cent chance of storms hitting south-east Queensland later today, as the region continues to clean up from the battering it has received since Sunday.
This morning a bureau spokesman told ABC Online that forecasters were still predicting the possibility of storms later this afternoon and into the evening.
He said any storm cells would be fast-moving, with strong winds rather than heavy rain posing the greatest threat.
The spokesman said wind speeds could gust up to 100 kilometres per hour.
Earlier today the bureau's forecast for Brisbane was: "Cloudy this morning with some light rain at times. A possible shower or storm this afternoon. Moderate to fresh and gusty NW/W winds."
So far this week central and southern Queensland has been hammered by three of the worst storms in decades, and emergency services have been stretched to the limit.
The Queensland Government says contingency plans are in place for the possibility of more bad weather today.
The rain continued over parts of the state last night, although the Brisbane area was granted a reprieve.
In the past 24 hours, 93 millimetres has been recorded in Childers South near Bundaberg and the Gold Coast Hinterland received up to 60 millimetres.
Premier Anna Bligh says it is going to be an anxious time for emergency services, with the Rugby League World Cup at Lang Park tonight, the cricket Test continuing at the Gabba, and Schoolies Week officially underway on the Gold Coast.
"There's no doubt that this event has put all of our systems to the test," she said.
"We're very well equipped for today. We have 389 SES staged ready for any event, and we do expect we will be seeing some storms tomorrow [Saturday].
"We have three Defence Force companies on stand-by and on alert if necessary."
Residents at Brisbane's Ashgrove recovery centre last night said the storms were starting to take an emotional toll, and everyone was worried about what might happen today.
"Police came out to the house today and said there is going to be another storm of the same magnitude and it does really worry us," one affected resident said.
"We are just clearing everything up making a difference and we think it is all going to be completely wrecked again.
"Another storm, I am just not sure whether we will get water in again, so yep there is a little bit of trepidation, terrified.
"The kids are really scared of storms now - they're hiding under beds when they hear the thunder."
Emergency services are still stretched to the limit.
400 SES volunteers will be deployed across the south-east today repairing homes and businesses.
Flood warnings are still current for the Condamine River west of Dalby and the Bremer River south-west of Brisbane.
- ABC
© ABC
2008
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