Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Central Coast and Whitsundays; Heavy Rainfall and Flash Flooding Expected

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning (IDQ21033) for heavy rainfall. This is a top-priority alert for immediate broadcast, effective as of 8:17 pm Tuesday, 17 February 2026.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers northern parts of the Central Coast and Whitsundays Forecast District in Queensland. Locations that may be affected by the storm activity include Proserpine.

What You Should Do

Emergency services advise residents in the warning area to take the following precautions:

• Seek Shelter: Go inside a strong building immediately and stay inside until the storm has passed.
• Vehicle Safety: Park your car undercover and away from trees.
• Secure Your Home: Close all doors and windows.
• Health Precautions: Keep asthma medications close by, as storms and wind can trigger asthma attacks.
• Power Readiness: Charge mobile phones and power banks in case of power outages.
• Pet Safety: Place pets in a safe location and ensure they have identification.
• Travel Safety: Do not drive unless absolutely necessary, as road conditions are considered dangerous.
• Community Awareness: Notify friends, family, and neighbors in the affected area.

Expected Conditions

An extremely moist and unstable onshore flow is combining with a weak mid-level trough. This weather situation is supporting one or two slow-moving bands of heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms. These severe thunderstorms are likely to produce locally heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash flooding within the warning area over the next several hours.

Timeline

The warning was issued at 8:17 pm on Tuesday, 17 February 2026. The current alert window is expected to remain active through 12:17 am (14:17 UTC). The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 11:20 pm.