UPDATE: A severe storm has just wreaked havoc across Brisbane on December 24, 2023, leaving over 3,000 households without power. The storm, which struck in the afternoon, has caused widespread outages in several suburbs, significantly impacting residents just as they prepare for Christmas celebrations.
As of now, approximately 1,845 households in Clayfield are still without electricity, while 1,204 households in Indooroopilly and Chapel Hill have had their power restored. Emergency crews from Energex are actively working to assess the damage and restore services.
The storm has been devastating, with reports of 50,000 lightning strikes documented across south-east Queensland. In addition to Brisbane, suburbs on the Sunshine Coast are also affected, where 1,076 households initially lost power, and 710 households remain without service.
“Where conditions have eased and it’s safe to head out, Energex crews will do fault-finding patrols to assess the damage and repairs required,”
an Energex spokesperson stated. They assured residents that estimated restoration times would be updated in the Outage Finder as assessments are completed. Crews are on standby every day of the year to respond to emergencies and are determined to get the Christmas lights back on safely and swiftly.
Minor outages were also reported, with some residents experiencing brief interruptions of a minute or so before power was restored. The Bureau of Meteorology issued warnings for heavy rainfall across the Greater Brisbane Area, which includes the Sunshine Coast, Southern Downs, and Darling Downs. Residents in these areas should remain vigilant, as the potential for hail exists.
Toowong recorded an impressive 44mm of rain in just half an hour, while the Brisbane CBD experienced 15mm to 20mm of rainfall. A second storm cell dropped between 30mm to 40mm just south of Ipswich, and the Sunshine Coast faced around 57mm in only 30 minutes.
Storms are expected to persist throughout the afternoon and into Christmas Day, with a slight reduction overnight before intensifying again around 10:00 AM tomorrow morning. Fortunately, the previously issued heatwave warning has been lifted, and temperatures are expected to cool down in the coming days.
Residents are urged to stay informed by following updates from Energex and local authorities as the situation develops. Your safety is the top priority, and crews are working diligently to restore power as quickly as possible.
