Parts of Queensland to be hit by thunderstorms as others prepare for cooler mornings to come

Parts of Queensland may be hit by severe thunderstorms on Friday afternoon, ahead of rain and a cool change in coming days.

A band of thunderstorms is predicted to pick up across the state’s southwest and interior, potentially reaching as far as the southeast, bringing the potential for damaging winds, rain and even hail.

Areas though the channel country, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Toowoomba and even as far east as Ipswich are in the firing line.

Senior Meteorologist Felim Hanniffy said the chance for isolated storms increases later in the afternoon and is the result of warmer air, moisture and a trough moving through southwestern Queensland — with cooler air coming through from behind.

“That’s what’s creating that increased instability,” he said.

“The watch point is the storms w