Urgent TORNADO warning issue for Australia's east coast as 'supercell' storm closes in
- Severe thunderstorms coming this weekend
- Queensland will be hardest hit by the supercell
- READ MORE: BOM's radar CRASHES as millions are smashed by thunderstorms
South-east Queensland is bracing for a potential tornado and severe thunderstorms as a devastating weather cell moves closer to the area.
Thunderstorm warnings have been issued for Ipswich, Somerset, the Lockyer Valley and the Sunshine Coast in Queensland for this weekend.
The most severe thunderstorm warning is currently in place for parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett, Darling Downs and Granite Belt and South East Coast districts.
Damaging winds, heavy rain and large hail are currently moving north-east from Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast towards Noosa Heads.
The storm is also passing through Eumundi to Tewantin, and areas around Moore and Linville in the Somerset Region
Helidon to Gatton, Grantham, Linville, Laidley, Grandchester and Mulgowie are also in the storm's path.
Severe thunderstorms are coming to parts of eastern Queensland
The worst areas impacted may experience the supercell for up to six days, Weatherzone reports
Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said the storms may last as long as six days.
Mr Domensino warned the storm would be the most intense on Saturday.
'Storms could develop early in the morning over eastern parts of NSW and Queensland on Saturday, before becoming more widespread and intense during the afternoon into the evening,' Mr Domensino said.
'Saturday's storms will be most active between central eastern Qld and central NSW, which could include both Brisbane and Sydney.
'Supercell thunderstorms are possible on Saturday, and isolated tornadoes can't be ruled out.'
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster and meteorologist Jonathan Howe agreed that Saturday was likely to be the worst day of the week.
'All supercell thunderstorms do carry a slight risk of tornadoes [but] we will only issue a warning for tornadoes if we get credible reports,' Mr Howe said.
Brisbane is forecast to receive up to 30mm of rain, while the Sunshine and Gold coasts may receive up to 25mm of rainfall.
The latest storms come just days after the same state was hit by golf-size hailstones caused widespread power outages across greater Brisbane for almost a full day
The thunderstorms are the result of an upper-level trough which may culminate in several days of rain.
The downpour is expected to affect central, eastern and south-eastern Australia early next week.
On Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology warned millions to brace for supercell storms and possible isolated tornadoes over the next 24 hours.
Seven severe storms have either already passed through the area or are currently moving across the south-east.
On Sunday, violent storms hit south-east Queensland with giant hail and destructive winds.
The front left more than 100,000 properties without power, while the recent storm has so far affected 8,000 homes.
More homes are expected to be affected as the state's power grid continues to take a hit.
