Sunshine Coast residents have suffered power outages and storm damage as a severe weather front rolled through the region this afternoon.
At 4.50pm more than 22,000 Energex customers in the Sunshine Coast Council area had suffered power outages. A further 6400 in Noosa were also without power.
Tony Willis shared photos from Buddina that showed a pine tree down across the car park nearest the lighthouse at Point Cartwright.
The Bureau of Meteorology said a 100km/h wind gust was recorded at Maroochydore at 3.46pm.
Do you have any photos or videos of today’s storm you’d like to share? Email news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au.
Police issued a warning saying multiple roads were affected by the storm, including areas where power lines are down from Coolum to Sunshine Beach.
“Please avoid any unnecessary travel,” they said.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued at 4.25pm on Monday for large, possibly giant hailstones; damaging, locally destructive winds; and heavy rainfall.
It said locations that may be affected included Maroochydore, Gympie, Noosa Heads, Nambour, Rainbow Beach and Cooroy.
“A humid and unstable airmass is in place with a southeasterly wind change moving through the southeast. Severe thunderstorms are moving to the north and are expected to continue throughout the afternoon and evening,” it said.
“Very dangerous thunderstorms are likely to produce large, possibly giant hailstones, damaging, locally destructive winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett and Southeast Coast districts.”
Coast residents took to social media to share their weather observations.
“Buderim got flogged! Anyone get hail bigger than this? Wowee!” wrote Elizabeth Smith (see main photo above).
Julie Andrews also shared a photo of hail at Buderim.
At Noosa several boats had come adrift, with Tara Morris sharing footage from Hilton Esplanade.
“If you’re missing your catamaran, it’s down here with the sinking houseboat. Seems to be wedged there … for now,” she wrote.
Azza Woods also shared a photo of boats having difficulties, this time at Mooloolaba.
