Violent thunderstorms likely to hit Australia during Christmas

Violent thunderstorms will likely hit eastern Australia during this year's Christmas period due to an unusual weather pattern, the Australian ABC News broadcaster reported on Saturday, reported Xinhua.

The spell of explosive thunderstorms will occur because polar air currently escaping from Antarctica will drift directly over southeast states from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, or from Sunday to Tuesday, the report said.

The arrival of a wintery air mass in a hostile summertime environment will create an exceptionally volatile atmosphere, capable of producing severe thunderstorms from northern Queensland to southern Victoria, it said.

The peak of the event will arrive from Christmas Eve when the polar air mass and jet arrive, according to the report.

On Sunday, severe storms are expected to take place across much of Queensland, including Brisbane and northern New South Wales (NSW), possibly down to Sydney.

The violent thunderstorms during this year's Christmas period will rival some of the most intense and widespread storm outbreaks in the past few decades, according to ABC News.