Brisbane was battered by huge hailstones and more than 3,000 lightning strikes as fierce storms rolled into Queensland
Brisbane was battered by huge hailstones and more than 3,000 lightning strikes as fierce storms rolled into Queensland
Brisbane was battered by huge hailstones and more than 3,000 lightning strikes as fierce storms pounded south-east Queensland.

More than 2,000 homes were without power after the storm on Tuesday afternoon, which saw 18mm of rain fall in just 30 minutes.

Shocked residents filmed as massive hailstones crashed to the earth, with 5cm chunks of ice coming down in Ipswich, west of Brisbane.

The ferocious storm is the just the start of the bad weather in Queensland this week, with four more days of thunder and lightning ahead.


The first flashes of lightning were spotted at around 3pm on the outskirts of Brisbane and continued until at least 6pm
The first flashes of lightning were spotted at around 3pm on the outskirts of Brisbane and continued until at least 6pm
The first flashes of lightning were spotted about 3pm on the outskirts of Brisbane and continued until at least 6pm.

As many as 3,000 lightning bolts hit Brisbane and Ipswich today, according to Weatherzone, but fortunately no one was hurt.

The summer storm came on the hottest day in parts of Brisbane since February, with highs of just under 38C.

But the temperature quickly plummeted by up to seven degrees as the rain and hail swept in.

More than 2,000 homes are with out power, with most of the blackouts on the Sunshine Coast, the Brisbane Times reported.

There were further power cuts in Ipswich and Brisbane's CBD.

Flash: As many as 3,000 lightning bolts hit Brisbane and Ipswich today, but no one was hurt
Flash: As many as 3,000 lightning bolts hit Brisbane and Ipswich today, but no one was hurt
Darwin is also facing a week of storms, with no sign of a day without thunder and lightning in the next week.

After a balmy weekend, Sydney is in for a couple of cooler few days.

Showers are forecast on Wednesday and Thursday, with the sunshine returning in proper on Sunday, when temperatures could reach 29C.

Shocked residents filmed as massive hailstones crashed to the earth, with 5cm chunks of ice coming down in Ipswich
Shocked residents filmed as massive hailstones crashed to the earth, with 5cm chunks of ice coming down in Ipswich
It will be a wet week in Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide too.

Perth is set for showers too, with rain on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. But the west coast city will be bathed in sunshine on Sunday and Monday, when temperatures could reach 31C.

Meanwhile, in Hobart, it will be cloudy tomorrow, with highs of 20C, before a week of rain.