Southeast Queensland weather; Hail, strong wind, heavy rain expected

Severe thunderstorms smashed southeast Queensland on Saturday with trees down, power out and 73mm of rain falling in an hour.

Trees are down and homes were left without power on the Sunshine Coast after a day of wild storms in the state’s southeast.

A severe thunderstorm brought heavy rain and damaging winds to the southern end of the Coast about 6pm.

A car under a tree at Moffat Beach.

As of 6.15pm power outages had affected at least 350 properties across Pelican Waters, Bells Creek, Corbould Park, Glass House Mountains, Meridan Plains and Beerburrum.

A downed tree at Currimundi.

At 9pm, the Bureau of Meteorology said the immediate threat had passed but further warnings will be issued if necessary.

A tree snapped in half at Currimundi.

Earlier, storms stopped play at the final Test against India at The Gabba as Brisbane was smashed with heavy rain.

Is that a rain dance? 😂 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Y3Rs7lI7yG

— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) January 16, 2021

Storms continued to hit a number of centres throughout the afternoon but the severe warning threat for Brisbane was cancelled as of 5.06pm.

Bureau of Meteorology Meteorologist Matthew Marshall had earlier said this afternoon’s storm activity would likely be widespread.

Storm clouds over Brisbane on Saturday. Picture: David Clark

“Severe thunderstorms are possible broadly about southeast Queensland this afternoon and evening with the potential to bring damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall,” he said.

A car hits water as intense rain falls on Brisbane on Saturday afternoon. Picture: David Clark

“The most likely area for these storms are the Gold Coast hinterlands, Brisbane, Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast although storms are possible broadly about southeast Queensland this afternoon.”

He said storms were likely to develop inland in the afternoon before moving east in the evening.

It comes as heatwave conditions impact far northwest Queensland while a tropical low could form offshore in the far north coast.