Severe storms left more than 3500 in Roma without power as flood warnings issued
Flood warnings were issued for the Roma area after severe storms carrying winds of more than 90km/h left more than 3500 people without power.
Charleville
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More than 3500 people were left without power and homes have suffered significant damage as severe storms lash the region and raise flood fears.
Powerful wind gusts of 93km/h felled trees and powerlines across town Wednesday afternoon, with reports of roofs being stripped from houses.
Leigh Aisthrope lives 25km outside of Roma, near Muckadilla, and was left in the dark after the wild weather.
Ms Aisthrope says she was caught in the storm after rushing picking up her three kids from school in Roma,.
“It was coming from every direction,” she said.
“The clouds were just so black. We couldn’t even see our front fence.”
Flooding predicted for Thursday has already hit Leigh’s property, with her dams and nearby creeks already overflowing.
Ergon Energy spokesman Brett Judge said crews were assessing the situation and working to restore power.
â›ˆï¸ Thunderstorm forecast for Thursday: Severe thunderstorms are likely in western, central, and southern Queensland. Current warnings: https://t.co/FBmpsInT9opic.twitter.com/oG7YYQXSMn
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) November 10, 2021
Ms Aisthrope said fortunately she and her children were used to weathering the wild storms by now.
“The hardest part is you’ve got no water when you’ve got no power on a property. Otherwise we’re all right,” she said.
Power was restored to most properties around Roma.
Ergon’s website on Thursday morning was reporting more than 530 customers without power after 17 unplanned outages across Queensland.
Barcaldine Regional Council’s area had 24, Blackall Tambo Regional Council 21, Cairns 135, Central Highlands 35, Etheridge Shire Council 96, Isaac Regional Council 47, Maranoa Regional Council had 94, Paroo Shire Council 19, Quilpie Shire Council 12 and Western Downs Regional. Council 13.
The latest storm front comes after Roma received a month’s worth of rain on Sunday night.
The total rainfall for November has already topped 93mm.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that minor to moderate floods might strike Roma on Thursday, with rain possibly topping 50mm.
That forecast puts pressure on emergency crews already addressing damage done by Wednesday’s severe storms.
BOM meteorologist Shane Kennedy says Roma had already received 36mm of rain by 9am Wednesday, more than half the monthly average for November.
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