Storm Location
Lockyer Valley
Storm Date
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.
Key points
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.
Gatton, Lockyer Valley, Laidley, Plainland, South East Queensland
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).
If you live any of these highly affected suburbs, we'll check your roof for hail damage, completely free.
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/
Examples reflect individual experiences only and Rebuild Relief does not guarantee or imply similar claim outcomes will be achieved for other clients. Every insurance claim is assessed on its own merits, based on unique circumstances including policy terms, roof condition, damage extent, insurer requirements, and other factors. Results will vary significantly between cases. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Vist our website: rebuildrelief.com.au ABN: 78 648 518 165 | AFSL: 530925
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.
