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Earlier this afternoon, a series of destructive storms emerged in the Gold Coast hinterland, advancing northward with devastating effects. The most severe damage was inflicted on Bribie Island, located north of Brisbane.
Helicopter footage captured a harrowing scene as the roof of one home was completely torn away, exposing the kitchen to the harsh elements. The resident stood in disbelief on what remained of their back patio, surveying the destruction.
Across the island, which lies east of Caboolture, numerous trees were uprooted, causing significant damage to buildings and vehicles. Power lines were also downed, resulting in nearly 70,000 residents in the Moreton Bay region being left without electricity.
In the face of this chaos, locals banded together to clear fallen trees from roads, working diligently to restore access.
Although the storm’s fury was unleashed in only a few short minutes, it left a trail of substantial damage across various parts of the region.
A roof peeled off a service station and flew into powerlines in Beaudesert and hail, some as big as cricket balls, belted backyards from Cornubia, south of Brisbane, to Maleny, on the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
Manly, Ferny Hills and Alexandra Hills all copped 11-centimetre hail, with 14-centimetre hailstones recorded in Chandler.
In Loganlea, a carport crashed down, taking power lines with it and forcing two people inside to evacuate through a neighbouring fence.
A big clean-up job was already under way this afternoon after the State Emergency Services received more than 1000 callouts by 6pm, mostly in Brisbane, Redlands and Logan.
Severe thunderstorm warnings remained for Noosa and the Wide Bay and Burnett region early tonight.
The severe weather came the day after the area south of Brisbane was thrashed by hail as big as golf balls last night, caused by a supercell that roared across the Scenic Rim and Logan, Weatherzone said.
Locals were warned earlier today there was a chance of more dangerous supercell storms in south-east Queensland and across the border in Murwillumbah.
“Monday has all the ingredients for further severe thunderstorm development over northeast NSW and southeast Qld,” Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said earlier today.
“Monday’s severe thunderstorms are likely to cause heavy rain, damaging wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h and large hail measuring larger than 2cm in diameter in some areas.
The Bureau of Meteorology also issued warnings.
“A warm and humid airmass is combining with a southerly wind change and a low-pressure trough to trigger severe thunderstorms across the Northern Rivers this afternoon.” it said.
“Severe thunderstorms are generally moving to the north and northeast and are expected to contract towards the Queensland border. Severe thunderstorms also moving into the southwest of the State.”
Storms are forecast for the rest of the week.