Qld storms: A brief reprieve before today heats up again

STORMS across Queensland’s southeast delivered a welcome reprieve from the searing heatwave that has gripped the state for three days.

Storms brewed on the Sunshine Coast. Alexandra Headland, December 1, 2016. Picture: john mccutcheon

STORMS across Queensland's southeast delivered a welcome reprieve from the searing heatwave that has gripped the state for three days.

• Below: How the storm unfolded across the region

But as temperatures dropped and heavy rainfall lashed the region, communities in New South Wales were dealing with the aftermath of ferocious fires that resulted in at least one small town being wiped out.

Queensland's afternoon thunderstorms left more than 17,000 homes without power, with suburbs in Ipswich and the Somerset region hit hardest.

Emergency services received 27 calls for assistance for leaking roofs, fallen trees and damaged powerlines.

The cool relief followed a weekend of record-breaking temperatures which saw paramedics respond to about 160 heat-related incidents across Queensland.

The extreme heat has caused cotton, fruit and vegetable growers on the Darling Downs to run out of allocated irrigation water, while cattle are starving due to a lack of green grass.

AgForce president Grant Maudsley said farmers had been feeling the effects of the heatwave.

"It's having a big effect on most of the farmers out west," he said.

"They've been fairly knocked around a bit and what grass is left is being cooked. We're just hoping for some rain."

Queensland Urban Utilities yesterday said about 160 Olympic swimming pools' worth of water had been consumed during the heatwave.

"The current heatwave is placing extra demand on our water network," a spokesman said.

"During a typical summer day, Brisbane consumes around 330 megalitres of water. Over the weekend, consumption increased to more than 400 megalitres per day."

Extreme conditions are expected to hit Townsville and Mackay today, with temperatures as high as 37C.

Brisbane is forecast to reach a top of 30C, with a high possibility of more rain this afternoon.

Check out the weather across the state below, listed with max forecast temperatures from the Bureau of Meteorology:

South East Coast

Brisbane  30 °C Morning shower or two.

Caloundra  29 °C Morning shower or two.

Coolangatta  29 °C Possible shower.

Esk  30 °C Shower or two.

Gatton  32 °C Shower or two.

Gold Coast Seaway  29 °C Possible shower.

Ipswich  30 °C Shower or two.

Laidley  31 °C Shower or two.

Maleny  27 °C Morning shower or two.

Logan Central  30 °C Morning shower or two.

Manly  28 °C Morning shower or two.

Maroochydore  30 °C Morning showers.

Nambour  30 °C Morning shower or two.

Noosa Heads  29 °C Morning showers.

Redcliffe  29 °C Morning showers.

Caboolture  31 °C Morning shower or two.

Darling Downs and Granite Belt

Dalby  34 °C Shower or two developing.

Goondiwindi  37 °C Possible shower.

Toowoomba  28 °C Shower or two.

Warwick  30 °C Shower or two.

Chinchilla  36 °C Hot. Possible shower.

Miles  37 °C Possible shower.

Oakey  32 °C Shower or two.

Stanthorpe  27 °C Shower or two.

Wide Bay and Burnett

Bundaberg  31 °C Showers.

Gympie  32 °C Morning shower or two.

Hervey Bay  32 °C Morning shower or two.

Kingaroy  31 °C Shower or two.

Maryborough  33 °C Morning shower or two.

Gayndah  34 °C Shower or two. Possible storm.

Monto  33 °C Showers. Possible storm.

Capricornia

Gladstone  33 °C Showers. Possible storm.

Rockhampton  36 °C Showers. Storm, possibly severe.

Biloela  37 °C Showers. Possible storm.

Yeppoon  32 °C Showers. Possible storm.

Central Highlands and Coalfields

Emerald  41 °C Hot and sunny.

Blackwater  42 °C Shower or two developing.

Clermont  42 °C Hot and sunny.

Dysart  42 °C Hot. Possible shower.

Moranbah  42 °C Hot and mostly sunny.

Rolleston  40 °C Hot and mostly sunny.

Springsure  39 °C Hot and sunny.

Taroom  39 °C Hot. Possible shower.

Central Coast and Whitsundays

Mackay  36 °C Shower or two. Possible storm.

Bowen  38 °C Shower or two.

Carmila  37 °C Shower or two. Possible storm.

Hamilton Island  34 °C Shower or two developing.

Proserpine  39 °C Shower or two. Possible storm.

Maranoa and Warrego

Charleville  37 °C Sunny.

Roma  39 °C Hot and mostly sunny.

St George  38 °C Sunny.

Augathella  37 °C Mostly sunny.

Bollon  37 °C Sunny.

Cunnamulla  36 °C Sunny.

Dirranbandi  38 °C Sunny.

Injune  39 °C Hot and mostly sunny.

Surat  38 °C Sunny.

Almost 2000 homes without power as storms hit

UPDATE 7.38PM: THOUSANDS of homes across the Sunshine Coast and in Morayfield to the south are without power this evening after a storm front lashed the region. 

The storms hit about 6.30pm and continue to pass over the Coast with heavy squalls bringing thunder, lightning, heavy rain and winds to many areas. 

Power is down several suburbs with 271 homes in Glasshouse Mountains left without electricity and 222 Eudlo. 

The are also 319 without power in Beerburrum. 

Further south in Morayfield 1735 homes are copping a blackout. 

The storms are expected to pass in the next hour. 

EARLIER 6.34PM: ENERGEX reports 1841 Sunshine Coast homes are without power as storms begin to hit. 

The suburbs with the largest number of outages are located in the hinterland - Beerburrum has 319 homes without electricity, Edulo 222, Glasshouse Mountains 271 and the Mooloolah Valley 621. 

All of the outages are presently under investigation, with the cause yet to be established. 

EARLIER: SEVERE storms which lashed Ipswich in the state's south-east earlier this afternoon are now bearing down upon the Sunshine Coast. 

The Bureau of Meteorology is presently warning that two intense cells are both making their way east - with one on a trajectory to hit central Brisbane and the other set to hit Caboolture and plausibly Caloundra later in the evening. 

Two storm cells are presently moving east bringing heavy weather. Source: BOM.

Power is out at 937 at Bundamba homes, 1145 Karalee homes, 730 Silkstone homes and 834 Redbank Plains homes.

Thousands more are without power right across the Ipswich region.

Energex is investigating the cause with updates expected from about 8pm.

A hail storm hits West Ipswich at 5pm on Monday, February 13. Picture: Emma Clarke

The BOM issued a statement warning of severe weather. 

"The BOM warns that, at 5:55 pm, severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Brisbane CBD, Camp Hill, Nudgee, Mount Mee, Wamuran and Woodford," the warning read.  

"These thunderstorms are moving towards the northeast.

"They are forecast to affect Caboolture, Beerburrum, Mount Beerwah, Beerwah, Peachester and Crohamhurst by 6:25 pm and Redcliffe, the area southwest of Caloundra, Bribie Island, northern Bribie Island,"

Meanwhile in Caboolture residents have posted on the Caboolture News' Facebook page with video showing rain and lightning. 

Content	To Approve	Moderation Reason	Date posted	Site
Username: rooboycoffs Email: [e-mail]	Type: story Title: Doctor jailed for indecent assault of patient	When will you run with the story of the Coffs psychologist up on multiple criminal charges who is looking at further jail time for taking advantage of vulnerable people and destroying families. Surely enough time has passed for this self promoting academic now convicted criminal to be named for the protection of the local community. He was in court on Friday and tomorrow.  less	February 13, 2:38 p.m. 2017	www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au