Monstrous Storm Unleashes Havoc Across Queensland
A ferocious storm system tore through Queensland on Monday afternoon, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake and plunging nearly 100,000 households into darkness. The extreme weather event, which rolled over Brisbane with terrifying force, brought destructive winds clocked at 110km/h and colossal hailstones measuring up to 12cm in diameter.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Response
The State Emergency Service (SES) was inundated with approximately 2,200 calls for assistance in the hours leading up to 2.30am Tuesday. More than two-thirds of these calls were related to structural damage to homes and buildings, including roofs being stripped away and windows shattered. Queensland police confirmed the Brisbane area and its surrounding suburbs bore the brunt of the impact, with Bribie Island reporting particularly significant damage.
Residents awoke to scenes of devastation. "Look, from everything we've seen, it's trees down, roofs off," recounted Heather, a Bribie Island local, to Brisbane's 4BC program. "It's just an absolute mess." The powerful winds were strong enough to flip over a car, and numerous properties sustained substantial harm from both the giant hail and fallen trees.
Massive Power Outages and Restoration Efforts
Energy supplier Energex, which serves over 1.4 million customers in south-east Queensland, reported nearly 100,000 power outages stretching from the Gold Coast to Gympie. Danny Donald, a media spokesperson for Energex, stated that while crews had managed to restore power to 70,000 customers overnight, many in the hardest-hit areas should prepare for extended blackouts.
"Winds are the biggest contributor to outages during the storms," Donald explained, noting there had been more than 880,000 lightning strikes. He warned residents in regions like Moreton Bay that power could be out for a day or two as crews work around the clock to clear debris and repair the network.
Ongoing Severe Weather Threat
According to Jonathan How, a forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), suburbs including Manly, Ferny Hills, and Alexandra Hills were pelted with hailstones between 11 and 12cm in diameter. Brisbane airport recorded wind gusts of 107km/h. The wild weather is set to continue, with forecasts predicting further thunderstorms for large parts of eastern Australia, bringing the risk of heavy rainfall, large hail, and flash flooding.
Adding to the challenges, the state is bracing for a heatwave, with temperatures expected to soar 10C above average along the east coast. These hot conditions are predicted to persist, leading to warm nights throughout the week and into the weekend.
