A major clean-up effort is underway in south-east Queensland after a “tornado-like” supercell ripped through the region yesterday afternoon.
It comes as a cold front sweeps through the nation’s west, bringing relief from the stifling humidity being felt in most states and territories.
The cold air is expected to hit Canberra and Sydney today as it continues its surge north.
More than 100,000 lightning strikes were recorded in south east Queensland as an intense storm cell barrelled through, dropping 60mm of rain in 30 minutes in some parts, and bringing destructive winds.
In Brisbane and Logan 2500 homes are still without power. At the peak of the cell, around 30,000 homes were without power.
Queensland reporter Mia Glover described the conditions as “tornado-like”.
“It was so scary for residents in Logan, these wild storms in particular that tornado- like cell that ripped through the area,” she said.
“All the residents in the Logan area have gone without power all night.
“We are in Lennox Court which is a street heavily hit. So many trees down here. I am looking at homes that have had their roofs ripped off. Also a local school nearby. That has had trees ripped down as well.”
The storm came as Queensland is in the grips of an oppressive heatwave with high humidity.
Energex said it is trying to get as much power back to residents as possible but it is concerned further storms forecast could hamper progress.
High humidity and heatwaves conditions are expected to put added pressure on the power grid, with Glover explaining more outages could happen.
Meanwhile residents in Canberra, Sydney, are Queensland are waiting for a cold front to hit and bring an end to the hot and humid conditions that have cloaked states for days.
The relief was palpable in Melbourne as the system moved through Victoria yesterday.
Weatherzone said Melbourne was more than five degrees cooler at midday than midnight, after it moved through.
Today maximum temperatures in Sydney and Canberra will tumble by as much as eight degrees from Tuesday’s respective maximums of 31.9°C and 29.4°C.
Queensland will have to wait another night for the cold front, which is predicted to push all the way into Cairns.
