Severe thunderstorms bring damaging winds and flash flooding

Severe thunderstorms have caused chaos in southeast Queensland, with trains cancelled, nearly 15,000 homes without electrictiy and fallen powerlines causing a hazard for motorists.

A SERIES of dangerous storms have smashed southeast Queensland, causing flash flooding, fallen powerlines, public transport chaos and leaving nearly 15,000 homes without power.

At 8.58pm, BOM said that the threat of severe thunderstorms in the Brisbane City, Logan, Ipswich, Somerset, Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley, Redland City, Sunshine Coast, and Moreton Bay council areas had temporarily eased.

However, redevelopment of severe thunderstorms remains likely, with areas affected including Maroochydore, Caboolture, Gatton, Laidley, Lowood and Nambour.

At its peak, Energex said 14,931 customers across Brisbane and southeast Queensland were without power due to the storms.

A stunning shot of lighting striking a tree in Albion, taken from Ascot. Picture: Greg Wah / @TheWah

TransLink advised multiple train services were suspended after a main power outage due to the storms, with delays of up to 90 minutes.

The Airport, Gold Coast, Beenleigh and Ferny Grove train lines were stopped in both directions about 6.49pm.

TransLink said alternative transport has been arranged with buses arriving at Kuraby, Beenleigh and Coomera stations from 7.51pm.

Overhead lines were damaged at at Holmview and Omeau stations.

Lightning over Logan Central. Picture: Casey McLean

Multiple powerlines have fallen on Airy Street and Wacol Station Rd in Wacol and Archerfield Rd and Boundary Road in Darra causing a hazard for motorists.

Motorists are urged to avoid both areas until further notice with Energex struggling through a sudden uprise in jobs.

Police do not have an estimated repair time crews will arrive at either scene as the energy provider are currently attending to “a long list of jobs”.

This Christmas Eve thunderstorm is HUGE. Now go put out a fire, please. #bnestorm pic.twitter.com/Tgaq0DcE44

— Jen Dudley-Nicholson (@jendudley) December 24, 2019

Amazing light show over Brisbane - the rain is coming in sideways now! #bnestorm pic.twitter.com/HrYIydNZrj

— Natalie Bochenski (@girlclumsy) December 24, 2019

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:

■ Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.

■ Never drive, walk or ride through flood waters. If it’s flooded, forget it.

■ For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

Severe thunderstorms are no longer occurring in the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central West and Capricornia districts and the warning for these districts is cancelled.