Daily London
Giant golf-ball sized hail measuring 5cm in diameter reportedly fell across multiple regions in the state, while some residents in the Southern Downs documented up to 8-9cm hailstones.
Nine people were treated for injuries at Esk State School’s 150th anniversary fair, located about 100km from Brisbane, which descended into chaos as the wild storms brought hail, heavy rain and damaging winds.
Four people were taken to hospital with minor hail-related injuries at 3.24pm local time.
A woman in her 30s was taken to Ipswich Hospital in a stable condition with head and neck injuries.
A man in his 20s was taken to Gatton Hospital in a stable condition with minor burns.
A woman in her 20s and another in her 30s were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Another five people were treated by paramedics at the scene.
Huge hailstones smashed windows, damaged roofs and pummelled cars.
The largest hailstones, about 9cm in diameter, were reported in Pratton in the state’s Southern Downs region.
The ferocious storm rolled across Brisbane’s CBD and the greater suburbs about 3pm.
It left hundreds of residents in south-east Queensland without power.
Residents in the NSW Northern Tablelands and across the North West Slopes and Plains, including Tamworth and Moree were also expected to be hit by the storms.
More storms forecast for today
The Bureau of Meteorology is warning more wild conditions are on the way, with severe storms, damaging winds and giant hail forecast in Queensland for later this afternoon.
Severe thunderstorms are possible across south-east Queensland, rolling as far as north-east NSW.
Damaging winds, heavy rain and large hail are again possible, the BoM said.
Inland regions including Gympie, Kandanga, Kenilworth and Gunalda are expected to be smashed with the worst of the wild weather.
The storms aren’t expected to ease until Tuesday.
The bureau warned that storms are possible tomorrow “almost anywhere in the state”.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli insisted the state’s emergency services were well prepared and ready to help.
“I want Queenslanders to know we’re prepared for this,” he said.
“I think that’s what makes the state so resilient, the ability to be able to deal with what Mother Nature throws at us.”
