Tens of thousands of people are without power after severe storms brought destructive winds, giant hail and heavy rain to south-east Queensland.
The Bureau of Meteorology said there were reports of hail between 6cm and 8cm falling at Tamrookum, Coombabah and Mount Tamborine. Hailstones up to 9cm in diameter also hit the Gold Coast.
“Very dangerous thunderstorms are moving into the southern and eastern suburbs of Brisbane with giant hail already observed. Damaging to destructive winds are also possible,” the BoM said on Monday afternoon.
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“Further storms are likely to develop across south-east Qld this afternoon as they continue to track northwards.”
Winds of up to 107km/h were recorded at Brisbane airport, and over half a million lightning strikes were recorded during the storm.
BoM meteorologist Dean Narramore said the thunderstorms would continue on Tuesday, with a severe weather warning in place for north-east NSW and south-east Queensland.
“We do it all again tomorrow,” Narramore said.
“With another round of large hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding. That threat extends a fair way inland as well on Tuesday.”
Justin Coomber from Energex told ABC radio that more than 138,000 customers had lost power across south-east Queensland.
“We’ve also got reports already of about 300 power lines down,” he said.
Over social media, residents near Logan shared images of giant hail balls, some larger than 8cm.
“I haven’t seen hail in Eagleby for the 5 years I’ve lived here,” wrote one Logan local on social media.
A heatwave has also been issued across the northern part of the state, with temperatures to soar up to the mid forties in some parts of Queensland in the coming days.
