Flash flooding, homes inundated in wave of severe storms

Residents across the southwest and South East Queensland are facing yet another big clean-up after a spate of severe storms. Here’s the latest.

Severe storms have wreaked havoc across parts of the Darling Downs, South West and Lockyer Valley overnight.

Heavy rain caused flash flooding for Lockyer Valley residents who saw their backyards and nearby streets quickly submerged.

More than 215,000 lightning strikes were recorded in a series of “ferocious” storms last night, which left about 1700 South East Queensland homes and businesses without power this morning.

In the southwest, the highest recorded rainfall was 51mm at Kurrumbilla near Goondiwindi on the border of Queensland and NSW.

Destructive winds in the southwest region overnight has left a wake of debris on a rural road near Inglewood. Photo: Facebook/Goondiwindi Notice Board

More than 100mm was recorded within the border region and up into the Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim on Monday.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Kristie Johnson said widespread falls between 15-40mm were recorded overnight in the Darling Downs and Granite Belt.

“There’s potential for thunderstorms from this afternoon that could possibly be severe, however they’re more likely on the eastern side of the Darling Downs,” she said.

The forecaster said storms could linger into the weekend, and were more likely north of the Darling Downs.

Lightning strikes captured from Sunday's storm at Wheatvale in the Southern Downs. Photo: Trevor Dawes

On Saturday parts of western Queensland are predicted to bare the brunt of thunderstorms, with the band likely to move into the Maranoa, Warrego and Channel Country areas on Sunday.

“It’s likely to arrive in the Darling Downs on Monday which will see mostly widespread showers,” Ms Johnson said.

While daytime temperatures still remain above average, Ms Johnson said there’s a cool change coming into the start of next week with temperatures dropping below average.

Between noon on Wednesday and 3.30am on Thursday, the SES were tasked to 26 incidents across the state.

SES crews in Roma were tasked to four separate incidents, and Warwick SES was tasked to two incidents.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman confirmed police only received one callout about a “big pothole on Arthur St” but no other incidents in relation to the wild weather.

Originally published as Flash flooding, homes inundated in wave of severe storms