Marquees and Queensland storm season: what survives, what to take down
Queensland storm season runs from about October to March, and the honest answer is that no party marquee is built for it. A marquee is a temporary structure for fair weather and light rain, not wind gusts. The rule that keeps your tent and your neighbours safe: enjoy it on the day, weight every leg with at least 15kg, and take it down before any forecast storm.
What a marquee is actually rated for
Every marquee we sell, from the 3x3m at $199 to the 12x7m grand marquee at $2,299, uses a water resistant, UV treated canopy that sheds steady rain. The roof sheds water and the frames are steel or aluminium. What none of them are rated for is a Southeast Queensland thunderstorm cell, which can bring gusts above 90km/h with 20 minutes of warning. Manufacturers class these tents as occasional use structures: up for the event, down after it, never left standing through a storm warning.
The storm season rules we give every customer
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Clear day, light breeze under 20km/h | Normal use, all walls optional |
| Gusty afternoon, 20 to 30km/h | Remove side walls so wind passes through, double the ballast |
| Forecast gusts above 30 to 40km/h | Take the marquee down. It takes under an hour and costs nothing |
| Storm warning issued for your area | Down, packed, in the garage. No exceptions |
| After heavy rain | Dry the canopy fully before storing or it will mildew |
Why walls matter more than you think
A fully walled 6x6m marquee presents a large sail area to the wind: the 36m² roof plus four walls. Take the walls off and the wind mostly passes through the frame. That is why our first response to a gusty forecast is always strip the walls, not add more weight. The full ballast guide covers the numbers, and the floor of it is 15kg per leg minimum, more for the bigger tents.
Planning an event in storm season anyway
Most Queensland weddings and Christmas parties happen between October and March, so you are not going to avoid the season. What works: check the BOM forecast at 48 hours and again at 12 hours, have four adults who know the pack-down plan, and set up the morning of the event rather than days before. A marquee that goes up in 60 to 90 minutes does not need to stand for a week collecting risk. Owning your marquee helps here too, because it comes down the moment the radar turns ugly.
The sizes, for reference
Our range runs 9m² ($199), 18m² ($249), 27m² ($349), 32m² ($899), 36m² fully walled ($949), 50m² aluminium framed ($1,599), 72m² ($1,899) and 84m² ($2,299). Every size uses the same logic above. If you are still choosing, the size calculator matches guest count to floor area in ten seconds, and every size is on our marquees for sale page.
Common questions
Can I leave a marquee up overnight in Queensland?
On a calm forecast, yes, weighted at every leg. In storm season check the overnight forecast first, and if storms are possible, take it down before dark. Pack-down in the rain at midnight is the alternative.
Can a marquee handle rain?
Yes. The canopies are water resistant and the roof overlaps the walls so water runs off. Rain is not the risk in a Queensland storm. Wind is.
What wind speed will damage a marquee?
Damage risk climbs steeply once gusts pass 30 to 40km/h on a walled marquee. Treat 40km/h as the hard ceiling and take it down well before that.
Should I peg or weight a marquee in summer?
Both where possible. Pegs and guy ropes into grass plus 15kg or more of ballast per leg. On concrete, weights only. Our concrete anchoring guide covers hard surfaces.
Does insurance cover a marquee blown into a fence?
Policies vary and many exclude unsecured temporary structures. The cheaper answer is the one above: ballast properly and never leave it up through a warning.
