Severe Storms Leave Thousands Without Power in Southeast Queensland
A widespread power outage and significant damage are impacting southeast Queensland following a barrage of severe thunderstorms that unleashed destructive winds, giant hail, and torrential rainfall. The extreme weather event, which unfolded on Monday, has left over 138,000 customers without electricity and prompted warnings of further storms.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) reported exceptionally large hail, with sizes ranging between 6cm and 8cm, impacting areas including Tamrookum, Coombabah, and Mount Tamborine. The BoM cautioned that “very dangerous thunderstorms” were advancing toward the southern and eastern suburbs of Brisbane, with giant hail already being observed alongside the potential for damaging to destructive wind gusts. Forecasters indicated that additional storms were likely to develop and move northward across the region throughout the afternoon.
Energex, the region’s electricity distributor, confirmed the scale of the disruption. A company spokesperson told ABC radio that more than 138,000 customers were experiencing power outages, and crews were responding to reports of approximately 300 downed power lines. Restoring power is expected to be a complex and lengthy process given the widespread nature of the damage.
Residents took to social media to document the intensity of the storms. Images circulating online, particularly from the Logan area, depicted hailstones exceeding 8cm in diameter. One resident of Eagleby shared online that they had not witnessed hail in the area for five years. A photograph captured in Wellington Point showed 7cm hailstones impacting the ground.
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Adding to the challenging conditions, a heatwave warning has been issued for the northern part of Queensland. Temperatures are forecast to climb into the mid-40s Celsius in some areas in the coming days, creating a stark contrast to the recent severe storms and potentially exacerbating the difficulties faced by those without power. The combination of extreme weather events underscores the increasing vulnerability of Queensland communities to climate-related hazards.
