Lockyer Valley and Gatton 2023: Supercell Hail Devastates the Darling Downs Gateway
In November and December 2023, supercell storms dumped giant hail across the Lockyer Valley and Gatton, wiping out crops and battering homes. Here's what happened across the region.
Storm Location
Lockyer Valley
Storm Date
10 Nov 2023
When Supercells Tracked Through the Lockyer Valley
On 10 November 2023, a relatively isolated storm exploded into a supercell and tracked straight through the Lockyer Valley. It brought isolated large and giant hailstones, a huge volume of smaller hail that piled up several centimetres deep on the ground, wind gusts up to 87 km/h and localised flash flooding from torrential rain.
The damage to agriculture alone was severe — an estimated $30 million in crop losses and a further $20 million in farming infrastructure — and tragically the storms claimed one life from a falling tree. Weeks later, on 23 December 2023, giant hail up to 10 cm was again observed at Gatton during another severe thunderstorm.
Weather Map (Swathe Data)
The Damage Beyond the Paddocks
It wasn't only crops and sheds. Hail and wind of this intensity bruises and cracks tiles, dents metal roofing and tears flashing loose on homes across Gatton and the surrounding towns — damage that often only reveals itself as leaks weeks later.
What to Do After a Storm
1. Stay safe. Avoid floodwater, fallen powerlines and unstable structures.
2. Document everything. Photograph and film all damage to your roof, gutters, sheds and home before cleaning up.
3. Get a professional roof inspection. Hidden hail damage is easy to miss and easy for an insurer to dispute.
4. Lodge your claim early. Prompt reporting protects your claim.
How Rebuild Relief Can Help
We provide free roof inspections and complete hail damage claims management under our No-Win, No-Fee basis.
Why the Lockyer Valley Is So Exposed
Sitting between the Great Dividing Range and the SEQ coastal plain, the Lockyer Valley is a natural corridor for supercells that build over the ranges and intensify as they descend. That same geography that makes it rich farmland also puts Gatton and its neighbours directly in the path of giant hail and destructive winds each storm season.
If your Gatton or Lockyer Valley home has weathered a storm, don't wait for a leak to appear. Book your free roof inspection today.
Rebuild Relief is a licensed claims management service. Every claim is unique and assessed on its own merits — including your policy terms, roof condition, the extent of damage and your insurer's requirements. Results vary significantly and we do not guarantee any outcome; claims are determined by insurers. This article is general information only and is not personal financial, legal or insurance advice. ClaimsCo Pty Ltd trading as Rebuild Relief (ACN 648 518 165, AFSL 530925, ABN 78 648 518 165).
References
ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes (2023) 'Lockyer Valley hailstorm'. Available at: https://climateextremes.org.au/lockyer-valley-hailstorm/
Australian Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub (2020) 'Hailstorm – South-east Queensland'. Available at: https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/hailstorm-south-east-queensland-2020/
Storm and insurance information in this post is provided in good faith but may contain errors or omissions. Do not rely on it as advice; always verify details independently and consult your insurer or adviser before acting.