A massive ‘wave’ of storms is hammering south-east Queensland – with a car struck by a lightning bolt, golf-ball size hail reported and flights delayed.
The storm chaos even brought down all TV and radio broadcast signals on the Gold Coast after the transmitter on Mount Tamborine died on Saturday morning.
The transmitter was being powered by backup generators following giant storms on Christmas Day. Signals were restored later in the day.
A Caboolture man was taken to hospital when his car was struck by lightning on the Bruce Highway in the city’s north at about 9.20am.
Meanwhile 4-5cm chunks of hail struck Tara, some 300km west of Brisbane.
Several flights at Brisbane Airport (above) have been delayed due to a massive storm in the area
Tara, some 300km west of Brisbane, saw golf-ball sized hail (above) on Saturday morning following a warning of ‘several waves of thunderstorms’ from the Bureau of Meteorology
The Bureau of Meteorology warned ‘several waves of thunderstorms’ would cause havoc in Queensland’s south-east throughout the day.
The poor conditions delayed some flights into and out of Brisbane Airport.
One traveller posted a bleak image of the storm, writing: ‘No flights in or out for now. It’s wild again.’
Brisbane Airport advised travellers to check the status of their flights.
There were reports of minor flooding on the Bruce Hwy northbound at Burpengary with traffic at a standstill.
Beerburrum recorded 110mm of rain in the two hours to 11am, Landsborough recorded 67mm in thirty minutes to 11.15am, while Wamuran in the Moreton Bay region recorded 66mm in the hour to 9.19am.
North of Chinchilla in the Western Downs region storms brought 6cm hailstones, while 4-5cm hail was spotted at Tara, on Saturday.
Wind gusts reached 93km/h at Gympie, while 64mm of rain fell at Cedar Pocket Dam.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a flood watch for much of the southeast, covering the Gold Coast and Brisbane, all the way north to Rockhampton.
The Bureau warned: ‘thunderstorm likely, possibly severe with destructive winds, large hail and heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding’ (pictured, storm over Brisbane)
‘At this stage we’re not expecting widespread flooding but areas of heavy rain with thunderstorms could produce flash flooding as well as rapid rises in rivers, creeks and storm drains,’ meteorologist Jonathan How said.
Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt has vowed to ‘close the gaps’ in weather warning systems following criticism of the Bureau of Meteorology.
The bureau has been copping criticism for its forecasting and weather warning systems following ex-tropical cyclone Jasper in Queensland’s far north and the Christmas Day storms that lashed the state’s southeast.
When Jasper made landfall residents of the Cairns suburb of Holloways Beach reported only receiving major flood warnings after already being isolated by floodwaters.
On the Gold Coast, one of the hardest hit regions over the past few weeks, mayor Tom Tate said it was ‘unforgivable’ that a weather warning went out to residents after Christmas Day storms had already passed through.
Mr Watt said he’s tasked the National Emergency Management Agency with bringing the bureau, state governments and councils together to find out where warning processes may be lacking.
On Sunday, storms are forecast to move inland, with giant hail possible from Charters Towers to Emerald (pictured, Brisbane)
‘It might be that the bureau need to provide clearer information than they are, it might be councils need more training about how to recognise the signals and translate that information from the bureau into text messages,’ he said.
‘Wherever the gaps are I am keen to resolve them because we want to make sure people are receiving the most accurate, reliable information.’
Mr Watt said climate change is having an impact on the weather and the science being used to predict and alert people.
‘The models we have traditionally used are having to change because the climate is changing,’ he said.
‘This is something I know the bureau is working hard on but unfortunately the reality is climate change means we will live through more unpredictable weather.’
Queensland Premier Steven Miles welcomed the review of warning systems.
‘The weather events that we’re seeing are changing and if there are ways that we can improve our alert systems … I think it’s a good thing,’ he said.
Mr Watt said the federal government is working on a new national messaging system, which is expected to be ready in 2024.
North of Chinchilla in the Western Downs region storms brought 6cm hailstones, while 4-5cm hail (above) was spotted at Tara
On Sunday, storms are forecast to move inland, with giant hail possible from Charters Towers to Emerald.
About 133,000 Energex customers lost power earlier this week after a tornado and storms battered the region.
There were about 28,000 people still waiting for power to be reconnected, predominantly in the hardest hit areas of the Gold Coast, Scenic Rim and Logan.
Queensland Energy chief executive Peter Scott said there’d been another 5000 outages on the Sunshine Coast and 2500 at Moreton Bay after storms rolled through on Saturday morning.
Mr Miles said some people might be without power for nearly another week.
‘The fact is if they’re still without power that’s because connecting their power is complicated and complex,’ he said.
‘The crews are doing a great job, they’re doing everything they can.’
Queensland’s Disaster Recovery Minister Nikki Boyd said six homes had been ‘totally destroyed’ by the storms that have occurred since Christmas Day.
She said the SES had received 3824 requests for assistance across Queensland’s southeast in the same period.
There were 180 Queensland SES volunteers already working to repair roofs and clear trees, a spokeswoman for Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said.
Queensland’s Disaster Recovery Minister Nikki Boyd said the SES had received 3824 requests for assistance across Queensland’s southeast since Christmas (pictured, Brisbane)
They are being joined by 48 SES NSW volunteers, while many of 88 incoming Victorian volunteers are expected to start work on Sunday.
Storm-related activity has claimed the lives of seven people in Queensland since Christmas.
NSW and Victoria received their share of storms too. Three people died on Boxing Day.