Severe thunderstorms and widespread rain are set to lash large parts of Australia, bringing the chance of more destruction, drenchings and icy conditions into next week.
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A rain band, stretching from Tasmania to the tip of the Northern Territory, is set to sweep east across six Australian jurisdictions from Monday into Tuesday, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
"With this band of rain, fuelled by that tropical moisture moving eastwards, it could bring a risk of storms to many areas," senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.
Thunderstorms have been forecast from the tropical north to southern Australia, with inland parts of southern and central Queensland, inland parts of northern NSW, Sydney and southern NSW at risk of severe systems.
Between 30 to 50mm of rain could fall in southern Australia, as Victoria hosts the Melbourne Cup.
"That means the Melbourne Cup ... could be interrupted by a shower or some cold winds on Tuesday," Mr Hines said.
On Saturday, nine people attending the 150th Anniversary of Esk State School, northwest of Brisbane, were pelted with giant hailstones, some as big as 9cm, in a supercell thunderstorm, as heavy rain smashed southeast Queensland.
One woman was hospitalised with neck and head injuries, a man in his 20s was taken to hospital with minor burns, while two women suffered minor injuries.
At MJ's Cafe & Bar in the Southern Downs town of Pratten, owner Richard Manley said hail almost the size of tennis balls came crashing through their skylights.
"Basically all the cars in the car park had their windscreen smashed and a Land Cruiser lost nearly every panel on the car," he told AAP.
Premier David Crisafulli said emergency crews had been busy helping Queenslanders affected by the storms, with the SES receiving 277 requests for help, mainly for leaking and damaged roofs, since Saturday morning.
Mr Crisafulli told reporters on Sunday it had been a tough week but wanted Queenslanders "to know we're prepared for this".
"I think that's what makes the state so resilient, the ability to be able to deal with what Mother Nature throws at us," he said.
Though storms are set to continue across the east into Sunday, they are expected to be contained to a smaller area.
Australian Associated Press
