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

Source: BOM · Central Coast and Whitsundays, QLD

This alert is no longer in effect.

BOM issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).

Areazine synthesizes this BoM weather warning directly from BOM's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a high-priority severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the Central Coast and Whitsundays, with heavy rainfall and flash flooding likely.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Affected area
Central Coast and Whitsundays, QLD
Issued
April 6, 2026
Issuing authority
BOM

Storm notices can cover different combinations of wind, hail, lightning, and rainfall. Use the original notice for the hazards and boundaries attached to this specific record.

Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Central Coast and Whitsundays, QLD.

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.

Original source: BOM Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this BoM weather warning.

What is this BoM weather warning about?
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a high-priority severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the Central Coast and Whitsundays, with heavy rainfall and flash flooding likely.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by BOM. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Central Coast and Whitsundays, QLD. Check with BOM for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Warnings updates?
Browse the full Weather Warnings feed on Areazine at areazine.com/au/weather/ for the latest updates from BOM and other agencies.