Severe thunderstorms are likely in southeast Queensland on Saturday, with damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall possible. The Gold Coast, Brisbane, Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast are all at risk of seeing storms on Saturday as a south-easterly wind change provides the trigger for thunderstorms to develop.

In addition to this trigger, an abundance of heat and humidity will combine to fuel the dangerous thunderstorms. Humidity will build through the remainder of Friday, leading to a very warm and sticky night for southeast Queensland residents. Temperatures will then soar on Saturday, reaching 37°C in Ipswich and 34°C in Brisbane, about 5°C above the January average.

The heat and humidity will combine with an upper-level trough, making the atmosphere primed for intense thunderstorm development on Saturday. Another important ingredient will be different wind speeds and directions at different heights in the atmosphere, known as wind shear. This will provide the right conditions for severe thunderstorms to develop and grow.

As it often the case, the thunderstorms will be hit and miss on Saturday, with some places missing out altogether and some areas being hit hard. With that in mind, make sure to check the radar and watch out for any warnings being issued through the day.