Several severe thunderstorm cells have hit parts of south-east Queensland this afternoon.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said throughout the afternoon several severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Brisbane CBD, Logan, Strathpine, Redcliffe, northern Bribie Island, the area north-east of Kingaroy, the area north-west of Toowoomba and Murwillumbah in northern New South Wales.
Large hailstones have been observed near Toowoomba. Hail up to 3 centimetres was reported at Highfields and 5cm at Kingsthorpe.
On the Sunshine Coast, the downpour caused flash flooding in parts of Maroochydore.
Thousands of Energex customers across Brisbane, Logan and the Sunshine Coast were left without power from the storm, with emergency repairs being carried out in several locations.
Energex has recorded about 205,000 lightning strikes across south-east Queensland since 2pm.
The bureau warned more storms are developing with the threat of flash flooding and heavy rain.
It advised that damaging winds and large hailstones are also likely.
Mt Coot-tha in Brisbane's inner west received 46 millimetres in 30 minutes and 62mm in one hour.
About 54mm of rain was recorded at Mount Tamborine in the Gold Coast hinterland in the hour to 2:15pm.
BOM forecaster Felim Hannify said storms were likely to continue through into Tuesday evening.
"The primary hazard is going to be heavy rainfall," he said.
"Damaging winds and large winds are considered a lower risk.
"We could see isolated falls under some of the severe storm, activity of 50 to 100mm wouldn't be out of the question."
Several flights departing from Brisbane Airport were delayed due to lightning in the area but have since resumed.
Flights to Gladstone and Rockhampton were cancelled.
The airport said services between Brisbane and Auckland were affected by severe wind brought by ex-Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle, which is hitting New Zealand and forced the cancellation of all flights at Auckland Airport.
Storms bring reprieve from hot weather
Mr Hannify said the storms should bring down temperatures.
"It's driven by a trough that's lingered over the south-east now but that trough is going to move north during today and it's going to bring a pronounced south-easterly change behind it so that's going to cool things off over the south east," he said.
"For the south-east, it looks like with this change coming through, it's going to bring fresher conditions behind it.
"Generally stabilised conditions … temperatures refreshing back into the high 20s so a bit of a reprieve for most people in comparison to the recent very hot conditions."
