Thunderstorms will return to parts of southeast Queensland on Tuesday, possibly affecting areas from the Sunshine Coast to the New South Wales border, including Brisbane.

Thunderstorms are initially expected to develop over Queensland's southeast inland early to mid-afternoon on Tuesday, most likely between the Blackbutt Ranges and the Border Ranges.

These storms will move from west to east and could impact major metropolitan areas of Brisbane and the Gold Coast. For the Sunshine Coast, thunderstorms are likely over the inland Hinterland in the afternoon and may reach the coastal communities from late-afternoon.

Image: Simulated infrared satellite image for 2pm (EST) Tuesday, February 23. Indicates developing cloud and potential showers along the inland ranges on Tuesday afternoon.Cloud is represented by the differing grey scale and in the case of thunderstorms, these are brighter, white regions.

-- Quiet start to the 2021 thunderstorm season --

During what is normally an active month for thunderstorms, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast have only experienced thunderstorm events on the 16th and 18th of January, while the Gold Coast incurred another event on the 19th. 

During January, Brisbane Airport reported thunderstorms on the 16th and 18th with no events to date in February.

This is below average thunderstorm activity at this time of year.

Over a 10-year period (between 2010 to 2020), Brisbane Airport has observed 21 thunderstorm days in January and 25 days in February.

While thunderstorm activity has been suppressed in January, Southeast Queensland has also received slightly less than its average monthly rainfall.

Image: Queensland's monthly rainfall in January as a percentage of the long-term average monthly accumulation.

Across Southeast Queensland, onshore winds have provided several rain days, which along with the two thunderstorm events, only amounted to slightly below to near average rainfall in January.

At the Brisbane City observation site, both thunderstorm days on the 16th and 18th produced 32mm and 35mm respectively.

Despite a quiet storm season to date, have an umbrella available on Tuesday and Wednesday if you're in Southeast Queensland and be prepared for some wet and stormy weather.

Be alert to any possible thunderstorm warnings on Tuesday, which you can access through the Weatherzone App or at https://www.weatherzone.com.au/warnings.jsp?lt=wzstate&lc=qld