Warwick weather: Huge overnight storms leave businesses, residents facing clean-up

Intense rainfall and hail from severe overnight storms have left businesses in the Warwick CBD with flood damage and roads cut off across the region. See the pictures and latest forecast here:

A wild overnight hailstorm that battered Warwick and the wider region has left residents and businesses again battling water damage and road closures, only days after the Condamine River flooded parts of the town.

Data from both the Bureau of Meteorology and the Environdata gauge on Percy St indicate Warwick received 40mm of rain in the 24 hours from 9am on Wednesday, much of which came down in the whopping storm that struck in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Residents across the Rose City and the wider region reported intense rainfall and storm activity throughout the night.

“50mm at The Hermitage and the windy (sic) and hail, scary at 2am,” Helen Hibberd wrote on social media.

“Bit of plant damage n (sic) my outdoor stove chimney broke off,” Lovesgardening Suzie shared.

Allora residents Ashleigh Robinson and Kerry Anne Mills said they received 70mm and 60mm at their homes respectively, with the latter noticing plenty of lightning but no hail.

Businesses in the Warwick CBD also copped a lashing from the wild weather overnight, with several stores on King St reportedly suffering varying levels of water damage.

The team at Kings Barber Shop said they were shocked to open their doors on Thursday morning to find their floors covered with water, which they were luckily able to sweep up without sustaining any damage to their electrical works.

Kings Barber Shop had to delay opening on Thursday morning after overnight storms flooded parts of their store. Picture: contributed

Staff member Natalie Harm said the floors could later show signs of damage, but the barber shop had fared better than their neighbouring businesses.

“It was probably only our four shops in a row in the one part of the building. Both shops (towards Albion St) have water damage as well,” she said.

“I don’t think it flooded the way it did with ours, but it’s all through their carpets and cords and stuff, so they’ve had to close up for the day.

“We checked the roof and couldn’t find any sign of a leak, so we don’t know where it’s come from, which is a bit of a worry if it rains again.”

There are also reports the New England Highway near Missen Flat has been cut off by flood waters, along with other busy routes to the north of Warwick such as Allora Clifton Rd and Leyburn Cunningham Rd.

The latest forecasts suggest more rain is on the way for Warwick and its surrounds, with BOM predicting up to another 15mm and the chance of another thunderstorm on Thursday afternoon.

Saturday and Sunday could bring up to a combined 35mm of rain and showers are expected to continue into the beginning of next week.