Storms, flash flooding for SE Qld

SOUTH-EAST Queenslanders are being warned to brace for thunderstorms which could bring flash flooding to parts of the region on Thursday evening.

The Gold Coast, Tweed and Sunshine Coast regions are expected to reach temperatures of 30 degrees before the storm clouds roll in from the west this afternoon. Ipswich is set to reach a maximum of 34 degrees.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects the storms to dump heavy rain around the South-East, with predictions of up to 40 millimetres within an hour.

Forecasters say the Darling Downs is likely to be the worst affected from this evening's storms, including suburbs west of Brisbane.

Experts also predict hail, but say flash flooding is more likely.

Temperatures are expected to drop across the South-East this weekend. The Sunshine Coast and Gold Coasts will both have top temps of 26 degrees, while Ipswich will drop to 28 tomorrow.

Almost 30,000 homes were without power across South-East Queensland last week, after thunderstorms and heavy rain struck the region.

More than 70 millimeters fell around Brisbane in five hours between 5pm and 10pm on October 25.

Check out the Bureau of Meteorology website for up-to-date weather warnings.