Southeast Australia is set to be smashed with more severe weather on Boxing Day, with thunderstorms and rain forecast for large parts of Queensland and New South Wales.
In Queensland, the Bureau of Meteorology says damaging winds, heavy rainfall and large hail are likely between Mackay and the Sunshine Coast, and possible south of Charters Towers.
Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are also predicted for Tuesday over eastern, northern, and far northern Queensland.
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Severe heatwave conditions will continue in the northern interior and northwest, with maximum temperatures above average.
Brisbane is expected to have a maximum temperature of 33C, with showers and the chance of a severe thunderstorm.
Multiple severe thunderstorm alerts were issued on Christmas Day, with residents hunkering down in the north and south of the state amid warnings for hail, torrential rain and flash flooding.
Some areas near the NSW border recorded hail 10cm in diameter on Christmas Eve and hundreds of people lost power into Monday after the severe weather impacted infrastructure.
An upper trough will cross southern Queensland over the next few days, increasing the likelihood of showers and thunderstorms in the east.
The trough is expected to weaken from Wednesday, extending into a broad low-pressure area on Thursday and Friday, while a weak ridge extends along the east coast.
In the far north of Queensland, the clean-up and repairs following ex-tropical cyclone Jasper and severe flooding continue.
Crews around Port Douglas and Mossman have reconnected more than 200km of water pipelines.
More than 4200 property damage assessments have been completed since Jasper delivered heavy rain and damaging winds.
Twelve homes have been confirmed destroyed, 126 properties are severely damaged and 554 moderately so.
Close to 9000 residents have received financial assistance payments.
Flood warnings remain in place for the Barcoo, Paroo River and Burnett rivers, with a flood watch for parts of the Cape York Peninsula.
People visiting the north in coming days have been advised to plan ahead with some roads still blocked.
“Landslides north of the Daintree River have created at least 2500 truckloads of debris which is yet to be cleared,” Douglas Shire Council acting chief executive Scott Mason said.
“We are encouraging tourists and travellers to take extra care when driving in more rural areas and look out for fallen and loose vegetation.”
Sections of the Captain Cook Highway from Cairns to Mossman continue to be cut off but access is available through Mareeba.
Essential services, including water, are successfully being restored to the majority of the shire.
“We are providing community support at recovery hubs and for people who can’t access them our team is on the phone and online offering advice and support,” Mason said.
New South Wales
Meanwhile, thunderstorms are expected to continue across NSW on Boxing Day, bringing further risk of flash flooding and other damage to large parts of the state.
A severe weather warning for the coast, issued about Christmas lunchtime, stretched from the Queensland to Victorian borders.
The warning was cancelled late on Monday as isolated thunderstorms were still occurring about the far northeast coastline but were expected to push offshore in the early hours of Tuesday.
A pattern of heavy rain, hail and damaging winds formed over the South West Slopes on Monday; extending north past Dubbo, taking in Orange, Canberra, Yass, Parkes, Wagga Wagga and Albury.
NSW SES Deputy Commissioner Debbie Platz said the severe weather could continue well into Boxing Day.
“This is a reminder for everyone – if it’s flooded, please forget it,” she said.
“Do not drive or play in any flooded areas.”
On Christmas Eve, the SES was called to 492 incidents, 313 of them across Sydney.
Most of the calls for assistance were related to storm damage to houses, however SES crews also conducted 25 flood rescues.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Angus Hines said the wet weather would continue for days, including the threat of more severe thunderstorms.
Premier Chris Minns thanked emergency workers for all their hard work over the holiday period.
“There’s been some really strange weather over the last couple of days, from bushfires to storms,” Minns said on Monday.
“There’s been tens of thousands of volunteers for the RFS and the State Emergency Services who’ve been working around the clock to keep us safe, to repair communities so that they can have a Christmas together.”
