Lol Posted the SYW at the same time in my previous post.



What an afternoon! The atmosphere over southeast QLD really delivered, with explosive storm development once the change moved through.

I just ran through the latest Sounding from the Brisbane Airport and looked at this mornings Sounding again . So the story is .

Pre-Storm Setup (Morning)

This morning’s Brisbane sounding showed everything lining up for a volatile afternoon:
Temp 33 °C, Dew Point 17 °C – much higher moisture than models suggested.
Lifted Index –7.9 and TT 51 – very unstable.

Strong NW surface flow turning W with height – perfect for storm organisation and movement toward the coast.
Dry mid-levels – ideal for large hail and powerful downdrafts.

That combination meant that once a trigger arrived, storms would erupt quickly and intensify fast.

⚡ Trigger and Development
By early afternoon, the pre-frontal trough and wind-change line pushed through the Darling Downs and Scenic Rim.

Within a couple of hours, towering cumulus exploded into severe storms stretching from Rathdowney to Beaudesert and Logan, moving northeast toward Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Severe Outcomes

The Bureau of Meteorology issued several Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, including Very Dangerous Storm for:
Giant hailstones and destructive winds, particularly near Rathdowney and Beaudesert, later impacting Brisbane’s southern suburbs.

Observations and radar signatures confirmed classic severe storm behaviour:

Giant hail potential supported by strong updrafts and dry mid-levels.
Damaging winds from collapsing cores and outflow surges.
Intense lightning activity through the storm line.

How It Matched the Forecast
The earlier outlook called for:
Inland initiation shifting east yes
Main threats: hail & strong winds, yes
Dew points increasing more than models showed , yes
Trigger from the moving trough, yes.

All four verified beautifully. It wasn’t a “textbook” setup, but the ingredients lined up at the right time.

Wrap-Up
This event was a great reminder of how quickly the storm environment in SEQ can change once moisture and heat align.
A day that looked marginal on paper turned into a classic late-spring severe outbreak, just as the season really starts to kick in.
Stay tuned in for more warnings as they are issued and stay safe . Very dark hhere now