‘Very dangerous’ storm lashes southeast Queensland

Baseball sized hail has smashed south east Queensland with the state hit by severe thunderstorms, sparking flash flooding and knocking out power to thousands of homes.

A car is flooded on Queen St in Southport after a storm lashes the Gold Coast. Picture: Jason O'Brien

A ferocious, one-in-100-year thunderstorm has lashed southeast Queensland, causing flash flooding and knocking out power to thousands of homes.

The “very dangerous” storm started on the Gold Coast and then moved its way up to the Sunshine Coast, smashing Brisbane on the way.

The torrential rain and ferocious winds brought down trees and flooded homes, while giant, baseball-sized hailstones fell in some areas, including Gympie.

A car is flooded on Queen St in Southport after a storm lashes the Gold Coast. Picture: Jason O'Brien

On the Gold Coast, lightning strikes knocked out traffic lights and cars were under water because of flash flooding.

More than 130 millimetres of rain fell in just one hour, with 76mm recorded in just 30 minutes at one gauge.

More than 11,000 homes and businesses in Southport, Runaway Bay, Labrador and Biggera Waters and Paradise Point were also without electricity at one point, though power was quickly restored in most areas.

The SES said it had received 46 requests for assistance.

⚠️ WARNING updated again for another VERY DANGEROUS storm near Cooran west of Noosa which is producing large, possibly giant hail, and damaging winds. #QldStorm pic.twitter.com/MVTBYWyADt

— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) December 13, 2019

In Brisbane, shoppers had to run for cover when the roof at Toombul Shopping Centre caved in under the deluge.

Slight delay here at Doomben @BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD pic.twitter.com/jEhnCw364Z

— Munce Racing (@munceracing) December 13, 2019

GREENSLOPES STORM CARNAGE: At least 6 cars flooded, residents say it came on in 10-20 minutes, water 1-1.5 metres high @7NewsBrisbane some people coming out of day surgery to find cars destroyed pic.twitter.com/VISYDTo3Zc

— Georgie Chumbley (@G_Chumbley) December 13, 2019

Eight to 10-centimetre hailstones then dropped from the sky as the storm moved north towards the Sunshine Coast.

One Wolvi resident told The Sunshine Coast Daily she “going to die” as the thumping rain hit.

Another Sunshine Coast resident Luke Rogers wrote on The Gympie Times Facebook page that it was “the worst hailstorm he had ever seen”.

A photo of hail taken in the Mary Valley. Photo: Glen Blyton

Baseball-sized hail recorded around Kandanga and Imbil. Photo Bobbie Hamilton.

Golf ball sized hail reported in Kandanga just after 2.30pm. Picture: Brydie Weston.

More storms are forecast for Saturday and Sunday, but the brunt of the severe weather was expected to hit on Friday.