The Bureau warned of severe storms, flash flooding, damaging winds and hail in eastern Australia.
Why it matters: The forecast threatens transport, agriculture, buildings and electricity infrastructure, while recent rain has increased the risk of rapid runoff and flooding. The reviewed warnings focus on New South Wales and Queensland.
- The Bureau forecast severe weather across southern Queensland and western New South Wales on October 25, 2026.
- The Bureau reported wind gusts of up to 100 km/h in central-western New South Wales around midday on October 25, 2026.
- The Mary River downstream of Gympie was forecast to reach major flood levels at Tiaro from the evening of October 25 into October 26, 2026.
- The most intense storm activity was expected to continue through October 26, 2026, across northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland.
Australia's Bureau of Meteorology warned on October 25, 2026, that a large storm system could bring large hail, damaging winds, flash flooding and possible power outages across parts of eastern Australia. The Bureau's forecast included southern Queensland, western New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and eastern Victoria, but the reviewed warning detail is concentrated in New South Wales and Queensland.
"This is a multi-state system of storms and it's unusually large," Bureau meteorologist David Crock said. A cooler front moving from the west was drawing tropical moisture southward after a high-pressure system blocked weather fronts over the Tasman Sea for about 10 days.
On October 25, 2026, the Bureau's New South Wales warnings page listed severe-thunderstorm warnings for parts of metropolitan and regional New South Wales, including Sydney, greater Wollongong, the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Gosford, Wyong, Wollondilly and Wingecarribee. The Bureau reported wind gusts of up to 100 km/h in central-western New South Wales around midday that day.
Queensland's warning summary listed multiple flood warnings, including a major flood warning for the Mary River. The river downstream of Gympie was forecast to reach major flood levels at Tiaro from the evening of October 25 into October 26, 2026.
Recent rainfall raised the flood risk. The Sunshine Coast received about 200 to 400 millimetres during the week before October 24, 2026. Separately, Nambour recorded 401 millimetres in October through 9 a.m. on October 23, 2026, its wettest October on record, according to ABC News.
Crock said further rain could cause flash flooding quickly. The Bureau forecast possible power outages as an impact of the storm, but the reviewed sources do not confirm widespread outages, casualties, evacuations or final storm totals.
By the numbers
- 401 mm - Nambour's October rainfall through 9 a.m. on October 23, 2026
- 200 to 400 mm - Rainfall reported across the Sunshine Coast during the week before October 24, 2026
- 100 km/h - Wind gusts reported by the Bureau in central-western New South Wales around midday on October 25, 2026
Yes, but: The Bureau's warnings and impacts were forecasts, not a confirmation of widespread outages, casualties or evacuations. The reviewed material also provides less local detail for the ACT and eastern Victoria than for New South Wales and Queensland.
What's next: The Bureau expected the most intense storm activity to continue through October 26, 2026, across northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland. New South Wales warnings remained subject to change.