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Two people have been struck by lightning after severe storms smashed southeast Queensland.
A child was left fighting for their life after being hit near the Sunshine Coast about 2.20pm on Saturday, and had to be transported accompanied by critical care specialists to the hospital.
Then, after 4pm, paramedics transported a man in a stable condition to the Gold Coast University Hospital after he was struck by lightning at a home in the city’s north.
The Bureau of Meteorology had earlier issued an alert at 3.20pm, warning that severe thunderstorms would hit parts of the state’s southeast – bringing damaging winds, large hailstones, and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding.
As of 6.30pm, a severe storm warning had extended over 400km of coastline between Noosa and Gladstone.
The bureau had warned a “very dangerous storm with intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding” risked hitting the region, bringing idamaging winds, large hailstones, and heavy rainfall.
It’s the latest in a spate of wild weather to lash the Sunshine State, after freak storms caused widespread damage across Brisbane and the wider region on Friday night.
Winds recorded in Archerfield – in the city’s west – were the strongest recorded since the 1940s.
Jasper remains a threat
Meanwhile, further north, ex-tropical cyclone Jasper is slowly moving into the Gulf of Carpenteria, but one weather guru has warned Australians in the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland they are not yet out of the woods, with a chance the system could “reintensify” and remerge as another cyclone.
BOM senior meteorologist Angus Hines delivered the alarming news in a weather update from Saturday afternoon, warning the remnants of Jasper could soon return with force.
“The risk of re intensification does increase,” he said.
“We have a moderate chance that Jasper will turn back into a tropical cyclone, through the second half of the next week, through Wednesday until Friday.
“If it does so, there are a number of paths that the system could take.
“It may affect parts of the Top End of the Northern Territory or it could even double back and affect Far North Queensland through the second half of next week and into next weekend.”
The Jasper system will likely be a tropical low as it moves away from the Cape York region of Far North Queensland and enters the warms waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria from Sunday through to Tuesday.
Mr Hines asked residents in the vast stretch of Australia to keep note of BOM forecasts to see how the system evolves over the next few days.
Heatwave hits Aussie states
Australians are fronting a weekend of weather extremes, as widespread heatwaves envelop much of the country while northern Queensland braces for ‘life-threatening’ flash flooding.
The Bureau of Meteorology expects temperatures to reach brutal highs of mid-40 degrees over the weekend in interior and mining regions of Western Australia, while Sydney will battle top temperatures of 37 degrees.
“Hot, dry, fire weather is the key story,” Mr Hines said on Saturday morning.
Heatwave warnings are in place for large swathes of WA, southeastern Queensland, coastal and northern NSW, and parts of the Northern Territory.
“Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell,” a statement from BOM warned.
“Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre.”
Mr Hines also warns of “elevated fire danger” as high temperatures and dry, gusty winds sweep through Saturday.
Metro Sydney, The Central Coast and Northern NSW are at particular risk.
“Extreme Fire Danger is forecast for the following fire weather districts: Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region, Central Ranges, Northern Slopes and North Western,” BOM states.
In Western Australia, extreme fire danger is forecast for the Midwest Coast, Midwest Inland, Lesueur, Yarra Yarra, Swan Inland South and Capes districts.
In the Northern Territory, elevated fire danger is forecast for the Barkly North district.
But even as millions of Australians swelter through dry gusty winds and heat, it’s a different story for North Queenslanders as Jasper brings the threat of rain and life-threatening flash flood risks.
“Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper is currently located approximately 100 kilometres southeast of Kowanyama and is expected to remain slow-moving today,” BOM states.
“At this stage, Jasper is forecast to shift into The Gulf of Carpentaria during Sunday, although uncertainty exists on when exactly this will occur.”
There is a risk of flash flooding as heavy rainfall is expected to continue in the southern Peninsula, Gulf Country and far northern Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders over the weekend.
“Six-hourly rainfall totals between 100 to 140mm are likely, with 24-hourly totals up to 200mm, particularly on the eastern side of the system centre,” BOM said.
“Locally intense rainfall which, may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding, is also possible during this period with six-hourly rainfall totals up to 200mm, particularly with thunderstorms.”
BOM expects the southern parts of the country to see milder temperatures, with temperatures maxing out in the low 20s for Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide.
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