With the storm season arriving sooner than expected, RACQ and Suncorp have issued their list of suburbs that could be impacted by the extreme weather conditions, including Albany Creek, Ashgrove, and The Gap.
The Bureau of Meteorology has attributed this unexpected commencement to above-average temperatures and the looming El Nino weather pattern. Queenslanders are now being urged to prepare for an active storm season ahead.
The Bureau added that the state recorded its warmest winter in more than a century, prompting a warning that Queensland could experience more storms across the Southeastern region.
RACQ and Suncorp insurance groups have taken proactive steps to inform residents about potential storm hotspots in the state. RACQ Insurance analysed three years’ worth of data, reporting nearly 57,000 home and motor claims related to severe weather conditions, including storms, floods, and hail damage during the La Nina period.
Notable areas with high claim frequencies according to RACQ include postcodes 4340 (includes Ashwell and Calvert), and 4300 (includes Augustine Heights, Bellbird Park, Brookwater, Springfield, Springfield Central and Springfield Lakes).
On the other hand, Suncorp Insurance collated data from the past 2021-22 financial years. Their list of suburbs that could potentially be impacted by severe weather includes postcodes 4061 (The Gap, Brisbane North), 4017 (Brighton, Brisbane North), 4035 (Albany Creek, Brisbane North), 4556 (Buderim, Sunshine Coast), 4017 (Bracken Ridge, Brisbane North) and 4060 (Ashgrove, Brisbane North).
Melissa McGrath, spokesperson for RACQ Insurance advised homeowners to undertake property maintenance, including checking for loose tiles, clearing gutters, trimming trees and removing debris from yards. Queensland, she added, typically experiences storm season from September to March. And even though a drier season is predicted, there is still that risk of severe storms, hail, and cyclones.
Senior forecaster Felim Hanniffy, meanwhile, stated the warmer temperatures have set the stage for these early storms. These weather events can intensify very quickly, he added, so it’s important to undertake important home maintenance as early as possible.
Published 19-September-2023