New fears for Queensland out-of-control bushfires as severe storms loom

Queensland could cop its first severe storms of the wet season on Tuesday, with isolated thunderstorms predicted across the south-east.

However, the rainfall is unlikely to be enough to make a significant difference to bushfires burning in the region, with fears two separate fires in the Lockyer Valley could merge.

The storms are forecast to develop across the Darling Downs bringing isolated heavy rainfall and damaging winds.

There is the possibility of large hail at Brisbane and the Gold Coast in the early afternoon and north to the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay and Burnett in the evening, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Any rain will be a welcome reprieve for firefighters battling two out-of-control blazes in the Lockyer Valley, however, with storms comes the risk that high winds will exacerbate fire conditions and dry lightning strikes can start new blazes.

About 100 fire personnel have been battling the two blazes near Murphy’s Creek and Seventeen Mile since last week, and firefighters admit there is a good chance they could soon merge.

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The two fires are about four kilometres apart, but are continuing to merge closer together.

Both fires are currently burning at advice level as of Tuesday morning, which means residents in the area do not have to evacuate, but should monitor the latest information in case the situation changes.

The fires have burnt through a combined 1700 hectares and crews have serious concerns for four properties over the next 24 hours.

The fires and heightened storm activity could persist for several days, with the wet weather system potentially moving as far north as Townsville by Thursday.

“It is the first severe thunderstorms that we’ve seen this wet season,” Shane Kennedy from the Bureau of Meteorology said.

“These severe thunderstorms will be fairly isolated, so we’re not looking at a particularly widespread or high-end type of day,” he added.

Parts of southern and central Queensland, including parts of the south-east, experienced an unusually dry September, and forecasters don’t expect these storms to bring a widespread soaking.

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Modest totals of 5-15mm on average, up to 20-50mm in some areas, are forecast for Tuesday.

Across the rest of the country, parts of Victoria and South Australia can expect isolated showers as a cold front moves through.

Tasmania will receive widespread showers with a risk of small hail and even snow in some parts.

Western Australia will be mostly dry except for some showers and storms across the Gascoyne region.

The Northern Territory will be mostly dry and sunny with some showers through the Kimberley and the western Top End.