Thunderstorms bring threat of supercells to Queensland and NSW with destructive winds and hail on the forecast

The first major outbreak of spring thunderstorms is firing up this week across Queensland and north-east NSW.The spell of stormy days will peak this afternoon with a severe storm risk over a broad region from the Central Highlands, through south-east Queensland down to northern NSW.Today’s storm risk includes the chance of rotating supercells, the rarest and most intense category of thunderstorm, capable of producing destructive winds, giant hail and torrential rain.A storm rolls east across southern Brisbane on Tuesday afternoon. (Supplied: Ben Slatter)Severe weather season underwayAtmospheric conditions across eastern Australia this week are typical for the beginning of the severe weather season which runs from October to April.The most severe thunderstorm prone regions are south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales due to the areas’ optimal location on the boundary between warm, humid air off the Coral Sea undercutting waves of colder and drier air which arrives from…