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.
Sunshine Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sunshine Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
STORMS across Queensland's southeast delivered a welcome reprieve from the searing heatwave that has gripped the state for three days.
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.
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.
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: shane.kelly1@bigpond.com.au | 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 |
‘Aussie legend’ claims dramatic Tour de France stage win
Gympie celebrates after one of their own, cyclist Kaden Groves, claims a major victory in stage 20 of the Tour de France.
Southside study reveals real cost of ignoring mental health
Taxpayers could save $482 million over the next decade if governments tackle root causes of mental distress in Brisbane’s southern suburbs and Logan, a groundbreaking study has found.