Storm warning continues after wild weather cuts power, closes schools

Detailed summary

Severe thunderstorms are set to continue after nearly 80,000 homes and businesses in one Australian state were left without power.

A severe thunderstorm threat continues on Australia’s east coast after nearly 80,000 homes and businesses were left without power on Wednesday.

Thunderstorms hit South East Queensland, including Brisbane, where large amounts of rain were dumped in a short period of time and wind gusts up to 96km/h were recorded at Brisbane Airport.

The coast was smashed with 30-60mm of rain across the Wide Bay area and Bundaberg and there were reports of large hail across the south-east.

Senior Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Jonathan How said “it was a very busy and active thunderstorm day across Queensland and NSW yesterday (Wednesday)”.

“Today (Thursday) we still are seeing a lot of tropical moisture sticking around the east coast and that does mean that there is a chance of thunderstorms again across much of central and South East Queensland as well as north-east and eastern parts of NSW,” he said.

Mr How said severe thunderstorms could develop again in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Harvey Bay, and inland towards the Darling Downs on Thursday afternoon, bringing heavy rain, damaging winds and large hail.

Friday should bring a brief pause in thunderstorm activity across eastern Australia but less severe thunderstorms were still be possible for much of Queensland.

“At this stage we’re not expected to see widespread severe thunderstorms developing,” he said.

“Into the weekend we do see those thunderstorms reinvigorate as another surface trough develops across inland parts of Queensland.”

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