Brisbane weather: More rain, big swells expected in southeast

RAIN is expected in the state’s southeast for much of this week after a number of healthy showers hit the region this morning.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of the central highlands and coalfields, central west and Maranoa and Warrego regions.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned at 2.25pm that damaging winds, heavy rainfall and large hailsstones were possible over the next several hours.

It comes after the Gold Coast hinterland region of Upper Springbrook copped a 39mm downpour overnight. Meanwhile, Tallebudgeera Creek received 26mm. The falls were much lighter closer to the ocean, with 10mm at the Gold Coast seaway and just 6mm at Burleigh.

More than 24mm had fallen in Archerfield from 9am to 2pm today, while Alexandra Hills had been drenched by 24.2mm.

About 14mm has also fallen in Tewantin, near Noosa, while the rain gauge in Brisbane reached 5.6mm.

More light rain is forecast, with showers of up to 4mm expected to hit Brisbane tomorrow and up to 6mm at Surfers Paradise.

There should be reason to smile for surfers in the southeast, with swells expected to build up to 2m from today, according to Coastalwatch forecaster Ben MacCartney.

“Mid November is about as early as it gets when it comes to major swell-events of tropical origins,” Mr MacCartney said.

“Most seasons, it’s not until sometime in the new-year that we see any major groundswells arriving out of the east.

“The evolution of a subtropical low southeast of New Caledonia is now well and truly underway — and the swell will follow in due course.”

However, forecaster and managing director of Swellnet Ben Matson didn’t appear to be as excited by the forecast for the Gold Coast.

“This swell direction usually produces the biggest surf across the Tweed and Byron coasts,” Mr Matson said in his forecast.

“Overall, it looks like a very fun (easterly) swell event but certainly not epic.”

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Adam Blazak said Gold Coasters were in for an unsettled week of rainfall.

“It is going to be hit or miss for the Gold Coast in terms of rainfall however the ranges will be the lucky ones with catching the most rain,” he said.

“The swell conditions will get pretty powerful this afternoon and tomorrow morning.”

The mercury is tipped to reach a top of 25C in Brisbane tomorrow, 26C on the Gold Coast and 26C in Ipswich.

The wet weather this weekend hasn’t stopped all from enjoying themselves. School leavers celebrating Schoolies on the Gold Coast partied until a brief downpour at about 11.30pm Saturday sent most of the teens back to their hotel rooms where most remained for the night.

And it was all hands-on deck to make sure some of the region’s Year 12 graduates kept dry on their way to celebrating then end of school.

The weather did not dampen the spirits of the Downlands College students yesterday, who were all glammed up and ready to celebrate, The Chronicle reports.