Sydney: Severe thunderstorms unleashed destructive winds, torrential rain, and unusually large hail across south-east Queensland, leaving tens of thousands of households in the dark on Monday.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), hailstones measuring between 6cm and 8cm were reported in areas such as Tamrookum, Coombabah, and Mount Tamborine, while parts of the Gold Coast were struck by icy chunks as large as 9cm in diameter.
BoM officials issued an urgent warning as the storm front rolled into Brisbane’s southern and eastern suburbs, noting that “very dangerous thunderstorms are moving through the region, with giant hail already detected.” The agency also cautioned that destructive wind gusts remained a real possibility, with further storm cells expected to intensify and progress northward through the afternoon and evening.
Brisbane Airport recorded winds peaking at 107 km/h, while the storm generated over 500,000 lightning strikes, creating a dramatic display across the region.
BoM meteorologist Dean Narramore said the unstable weather pattern was far from over.
“We’re expecting another surge of intense thunderstorms on Tuesday,” he warned. “Large hail, damaging winds, and heavy downpours capable of triggering flash flooding will again pose a significant risk, even spreading well inland.”
Energy provider Energex reported widespread damage to the electrical network, with more than 138,000 customers losing power across south-east Queensland. Spokesperson Justin Coomber said crews were already responding to reports of around 300 downed power lines, highlighting the scale of the disruption.
Social media was filled with astonished reactions as residents near Logan shared photos of enormous hailstones some reportedly larger than 8cm. “I haven’t seen hail like this in Eagleby in the five years I’ve lived here,” one resident posted.
Adding to Queensland’s weather woes, authorities have issued a heatwave alert for the northern regions of the state. Temperatures are expected to soar into the mid-40s later this week, compounding the extreme conditions already faced by many communities.