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Eastern Australia Weather Update: Dangerous Storms, Giant Hail and Destructive Winds

By Paul Harrison | Founder & Publisher, Orbis Weather

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Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Eastern Australia Weather Update: Dangerous Storms, Giant Hail and Destructive Winds

By Paul Harrison, Orbis Weather

Severe thunderstorms struck eastern Australia for four days running, from a damaging storm near Yass, New South Wales, on Saturday to a broad outbreak on Tuesday. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) warned of “very dangerous” storms from Rockhampton to Sydney on Tuesday, November 3. It cited giant hail “well over 5 cm” (2 in) and destructive winds over 125 km/h (78 mph). The worst hail so far fell on Monday, when BoM reported stones of 6 to 10 cm (2.4 to 3.9 in) at Glenwood in Queensland’s Wide Bay region.

The threat now shifts. On Wednesday, BoM expects severe storms in Wide Bay, Capricornia and central Queensland and in western Victoria, while south-east Queensland turns hot and dry. This update is current to 1:20 a.m. AEST (2:20 a.m. AEDT) on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, which is 15:20 UTC on November 3.

The Bureau of Meteorology and state emergency services issue the official warnings. Follow any evacuation order immediately.

Tuesday’s warnings

Tuesday was the peak day, with BoM warning of giant hail and destructive winds across a band of about 2,000 km (1,240 miles). Weatherzone put that band from central Queensland to eastern Victoria (Weatherzone, Nov 3). BoM said the worst risk was north of about Port Macquarie, covering north-east NSW and much of south-east Queensland (BoM video via National Tribune, Nov 3).

Time issued (Nov 3)

State

Areas

Hazards

12:48 p.m. AEDT

NSW

Mid North Coast, Hunter, Central Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains, Northern Tablelands; towns including Armidale, Tamworth, Inverell and Glen Innes (BoM via Weatherzone)

Severe thunderstorms

About 2:39 p.m. AEST

Queensland

Central Highlands and Coalfields, Darling Downs and Granite Belt, Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett, Maranoa and Warrego

Giant hail, destructive winds, heavy rain

4:22 p.m. AEST

Queensland

Storms near and south of Toowoomba, moving east toward Gatton, Laidley and Ipswich (BoM via gcmag)

Severe thunderstorms

About 4:00 p.m. AEDT

NSW

Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter, Metropolitan (Sydney), Illawarra, Tablelands, Slopes and Plains, South Coast

Giant hail, destructive winds, heavy rain

The 2:39 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. issue times come from the Early Warning Network alert list, which republishes BoM warnings. BoM also flagged flash flooding as a particular concern in south-east Queensland, where catchments were saturated.

What the storms did

The storms brought giant hail, intense rain and roof damage, but no deaths or injuries had been reported by early Wednesday. Full figures for Tuesday afternoon and evening were not yet available.

Date

Place

What happened

Source

Tue Nov 3

Wellcamp Airport, Toowoomba, Qld

Gust of 106 km/h (66 mph) at 4:07 p.m. AEST

BoM via gcmag, Nov 3

Tue Nov 3

New England, NSW

Hail across the tablelands; SES jobs mostly near Tingha, crews on standby in Tamworth

Armidale Express, Nov 3

Mon Nov 2

Glenwood and Yarraman, Qld

Hail of 6 to 10 cm (2.4 to 3.9 in) at Glenwood and 4 cm (1.6 in) near Yarraman

BoM via Yahoo News Australia, Nov 3

Mon Nov 2

Fraser Coast, Qld

Hail up to 10 cm (3.9 in), banked up on a Maryborough road

ABC News, Nov 3

Mon Nov 2

Cooroy, Sunshine Coast, Qld

54 mm (2.1 in) of rain in 30 minutes to 4:34 p.m. AEST

BoM via Weatherzone

Mon Nov 2

Sunshine Coast and Gympie, Qld

More than 2,000 homes without power at 9 a.m. Tuesday

ABC Sunshine Coast, Nov 3

Mon Nov 2

Northern Rivers, NSW

17 requests for SES help after 6 p.m., mostly fallen trees and minor roof damage; Casino and Copmanhurst busiest

ABC NSW North Coast, Nov 3

Sun Nov 1

Millmerran, Darling Downs, Qld

Hail of 5 cm (2 in) around 3:40 p.m. from a supercell

ABC News, Nov 2

Sat Oct 31

Good Hope, near Yass, NSW

Six roofs torn off and 10 more buildings damaged in what the SES called a “tornado-like event”; BoM has not confirmed a tornado

ABC News, Nov 1

At Good Hope, a shipping container was moved about 300 m (980 ft), according to the ABC. Hail piled up on a lawn at Bidwill, and a Hervey Bay resident told the ABC his lawn was “covered with golf balls”.

The forecast

The storms move north and south on Wednesday, then a calmer spell follows before storm chances return on Saturday, November 7. BoM said the trough behind Tuesday’s outbreak would move over the Tasman Sea overnight, with warm westerly winds crossing south-east Queensland (BoM video via National Tribune, Nov 3). A cold front then crosses the south-east states (BoM video via National Tribune, Nov 3).

Region

Wednesday, Nov 4

Thursday to Saturday

South-east Queensland

Warm, dry and sunny; Brisbane 33°C (91°F)

Storms clear and conditions turn “much more settled”; Brisbane 35°C (95°F) Thursday (ABC); Toowoomba storm possible Saturday (BoM)

Wide Bay, Capricornia, central Qld

Severe storms possible: damaging winds, large hail, heavy rain

Clearing Thursday

Western and northern Qld

Low 40s °C (about 104°F); severe heatwave warning for Cape York and Gulf Country

Heat continues

Eastern NSW and Sydney

Storms move offshore early; Sydney 25°C (77°F), possible late shower

Sydney 28°C (82°F) Saturday with an 80% chance of rain and a chance of a thunderstorm (BoM)

Canberra

24°C (75°F), storms in the evening

Not stated

Victoria

Windy cold front; showers and storms reach Melbourne early afternoon; severe storms possible in the Wimmera around Horsham; snow above about 1,400 m (4,600 ft)

Not stated

Staying safe

Call the SES on 132 500 for storm or flood help, and Triple Zero (000) if a life is in danger. The steps below come from BoM warning text and SES advice published this week.

  • Move cars under cover and away from trees.
  • Stay indoors in a strong building during a storm, and keep asthma medication close.
  • Never drive, walk or ride through floodwater, and stay away from drains and fallen powerlines.
  • Keep phones charged and follow BoM warnings and radar on its website or app.
  • In Queensland, the SES Assistance QLD app can also be used to request help.

Frequently asked questions

What counts as giant hail? BoM’s warnings this week linked giant hail to stones “well over 5 cm” (2 in). Monday’s 6 to 10 cm stones at Glenwood were well above that mark.

Was there a tornado near Yass? Not confirmed. The NSW SES described Saturday’s storm at Good Hope as a “tornado-like event”, but BoM had not confirmed a tornado when the ABC reported it on November 1.

Will Brisbane get more storms this week? Not in the next few days. BoM expects hot, dry and sunny weather from Wednesday, with Brisbane near 33 to 35°C (91 to 95°F), and storm chances returning around Saturday.

Is Sydney still at risk? Wednesday’s storms are expected to move offshore early, leaving Sydney mostly dry. BoM gives Sydney an 80% chance of rain on Saturday, with a chance of a thunderstorm.

Why were the storms so widespread? BoM linked Tuesday’s outbreak to a trough over southern inland Queensland, and Weatherzone pointed to an upper-level trough. ABC meteorologist Jonathon How described the atmosphere as “highly unstable” from the NSW South Coast to the Fraser Coast.

Sources

About the Author

Paul Harrison — Founder & Publisher, Orbis Weather

Paul Harrison founded Orbis Weather in 2026 to make global weather and natural-hazard information easier to find, follow and understand. His coverage includes tropical cyclones, severe weather, extreme temperatures, earthquakes, volcanoes, wildfires, flooding and significant natural disasters worldwide.

View all articles by Paul Harrison → | Editorial Standards →

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