Massive storm roughs up Australia's east coast

Massive storm stretching from
Queensland to Tasmania.

A massive storm bearing down on Australia's east coast has gained momentum, as residents in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania are warned to brace for damaging winds, heavy rainfall and rough seas this weekend.

Emergency services are on standby in Queensland, with flash-flooding and powerful wind gusts expected to hit the south-east of the state from early Saturday.

A strong upper trough will move east into the southern interior of Queensland on Friday, shifting into the south-east on Saturday and moving off the southern coast on Sunday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology(BoM).

The BoM said the trough was moving faster than expected, slightly reducing the threat of heavy intense rainfall from Fraser Island to Brisbane's northside.

But the bureau warned drenching falls and damaging winds were still set to lash areas from Brisbane's CBD and southern suburbs through to the Gold Coast.

Read the ABC News story - “Storm warning: East coast braces for flooding, strong winds as pressure system bears down.”