UPDATE: A powerful supercell thunderstorm wreaked havoc in south-east Queensland, injuring nine people at a school fair, while the Bureau of Meteorology warns of more severe weather ahead. The chaos unfolded on Saturday afternoon during the 150th Anniversary of Esk State School, about an hour from Brisbane.
Giant hailstones, measuring up to 9 cm, pelted the area, leaving attendees with serious injuries. Emergency services treated nine individuals for hail-related injuries, including a woman transported to Ipswich Hospital with head and neck injuries. A man in his 20s was taken to Gatton Hospital for minor burns, while two other women, aged in their 20s and 30s, were also treated with minor injuries.
The storms not only injured attendees but also caused widespread damage across the region, with reports of shattered car windows and damaged homes. Hailstones up to 9 cm and gusts reaching 100 km/h have left almost 3,000 properties without power by 6 PM on Saturday evening.
Richard Manley, owner of MJ’s Cafe & Bar in the Southern Downs town of Pratten, described the scene: “Hail almost the size of tennis balls came crashing through our skylights. Basically, all the cars in the car park had their windscreen smashed, and a Land Cruiser lost nearly every panel.”
As the storms progressed, areas in New South Wales experienced hailstones as large as 7 cm, while Grafton recorded an astonishing 70 mm of rain in just half an hour. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued alerts for continued storms into Sunday, although they are expected to impact a smaller area.
Officials caution that the risk remains significant. Bureau forecaster Angus Hines stated, “Many places will not see the same risk, but that doesn’t mean there’s no risk at all.” Glen Alderton from Queensland’s SES urged residents to remain vigilant: “If you are in an area where you do hear thunder, it’s probably a good cue to go inside.”
As the situation develops, communities remain on high alert for additional severe storms, damaging winds, and giant hail expected on Sunday afternoon. Stay tuned for updates on this urgent weather situation as it continues to unfold.
