A ferocious band of severe thunderstorms ripped through Southeast Queensland on Sunday evening, causing widespread chaos across the greater Brisbane region and leaving tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the dark.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) confirmed that the storm cell brought with it all the hallmarks of a major weather event, including damaging winds and giant hailstones.
Wind gusts reached a high of 96 km/h at Archerfield Airport, while residents reported large hail falling across the western suburbs, with stones as large as 7 cm recorded in areas like St Lucia.
Power Network “Smashed” by Storm Damage
Energy provider Energex reported a staggering 67,000 customers lost power at the peak of the storm event on Sunday night, describing the damage to the network as “significant.”
Downed power lines and critical infrastructure failures caused the extensive blackouts, which affected areas from Ipswich and Toowoomah all the way to the coast.
As of Monday morning, crews were working around the clock to restore supply, with approximately 26,000 households still without electricity, primarily concentrated in Brisbane’s western and northern suburbs.
An Energex spokesperson issued a statement on Monday morning, confirming that nearly 70 repair crews were dispatched overnight and more were being mobilised to tackle the widespread destruction.
The provider urged the public to exercise extreme caution: “If you can see wires down, please stay well clear and call Triple Zero (000) immediately.”
Wider Impact and Emergency Response
The severe weather led to a surge in calls for assistance to the State Emergency Service (SES), with reports ranging from building damage caused by hail to falling trees and localised flooding.
The weather was so intense that the Pacific Cup Men’s rugby league match in Brisbane was briefly halted, with spectators advised to take shelter.
The BoM has forecast that damp conditions are expected to linger across Eastern Queensland throughout the week as a low-pressure trough continues to move through.
This comes ahead of a forecast heatwave, with Monday expected to see temperatures soaring in Brisbane, adding another layer of complexity for residents without power or air conditioning.
Staying Informed
Residents are advised to monitor the latest official warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology and check the Energex outage map for real-time updates and estimated restoration times in their specific areas.
They are also urged to take preparedness measures, including securing loose outdoor items and having an emergency kit ready for unexpected disruptions.
