Meteorologist have told why last night’s Lockyer Valley storm packed a punch as it cross the region

A violent storm that lashed the Lockyer has been unpicked by meteorologists

A lightning spectacular made its way across the Lockyer Valley during the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Hundreds of Lockyer Valley homes were without power on Tuesday morning after a vicious storm lashed the region shortly after midnight.

The aggressive storm, which travelled some 450km after it formed in Roma earlier on Monday, brought copious amounts of lightning and deafening thunder as it moved into the Lockyer Valley.

Its violent nature was maximised by un unstable atmosphere across south east Queensland, and the storm’s ability to gain momentum as it crossed Toowoomba.

Peter Claassen, a meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology said although the storm was fast moving, it was long lasting.

“These storms can stay ahead of the mechanism that normally kills them, so they can be quite long lasting and traverse quite long distances,” Mr Claassen said.

He said the storm intensified as it hit the ranges, delivering small hail at Toowoomba before it rampaged towards the Lockyer Valley.

“That topography helped to enhance the storm before it got to the valley as well,” Mr Claassen said.

“It was quite a weak storm when it formed over Roma, but it did pick up steam as it moved further east.”

The current unstable atmosphere is due to a large upper trough approaching the south east that’s delivering stormy conditions to the region.

Storms that eventuate in the evening often reduce the likelihood of a storm the following day, Mr Claassen said.

But the Lockyer Valley is forecast for a 70 per cent chance of a storm on Tuesday and a 90 per cent chance on Wednesday.

“The atmosphere is going to moisten more. The thunderstorms today and Wednesday will bring more rain but less lightning strikes,” Mr Claassen said.

The forecast will improve on Thursday with clearer conditions, but overnight temperatures will fall to single figures from the weekend due to a high-pressure system in the Australian Bight delivering southerly winds.