Caught out in a record-breaking storm: Why we didn't see it coming

Key points

• A storm in south-east Queensland on Thursday dumped more than 200mm of rain in three hours, causing flash floods and hundreds of State Emergency Service calls. Monthly October rainfall records were broken at Nambour and Beerburrum.
• Experts say forecasting has improved, but small, localised storms remain hard to predict precisely.
• Climate scientists also say climate change is intensifying rainfall extremes and making severe weather more consequential, which can make forecasts appear less reliable.