Several severe storms have carved a path of damage through many areas of SE QLD and NE NSW, damaging hundreds of homes with large hail and/or severe winds.

In NE NSW, the town of Casino was battered by a severe storm which brought strong winds, torrential rain and very large hail.  The AWS at Casino recorded a 187mm/h rain rate at 6:26pm (NSW time), and a 44 knot wind gust at 6:15pm.  NSW storm chasers Michael Bath and Dave Ellem were at Casino when the storm struck, and were battered by 4cm hail, severe winds and torrential rain.  Upon inspection of the damage after the storms, stones to 6cm in size were found.  There have also been unconfirmed reports of hail up to 10cm!  Click here to read Michael Baths summary of this storm, which now includes spectacular photos.

In SE QLD, severe storms developed in a near constant stream from late afternoon, through the night and into the early hours of the next day.  Many areas suffered extensive damage - details are listed in the Significant Observations and Reports section of this report.

Many people were out taking photographs, and these will gradually be added or linked to from this report as they are submitted.

The following photos were taken by Ben Quinn and Jason rainforest. during the afternoon of January 17.

The next series of photos were taken by Ben Quinn from Woody Point (SE suburb of Redcliffe) during the early hours of the morning January 18, approx. 40 mins after the hail fell.  Hail size was up to 5cm.

The following photos were taken by Ben Quinn during the morning of January 18.  The first 2 are of a hailstorm (which produced hail up to 5cm in size) over the eastern suburbs of Brisbane around 7am, and the next 3 of another hailstorm in Moreton Bay a few hours later.

The lightning show that was witnessed from sunset to sunrise will be remembered for years to come! Marty Barritt took the following photos from Toombul during the afternoon and evening.

Andrew Maben took the following photos from the Sunshine Coast.

Steve Baynham took the following photos from the Gold Coast.

Also these photos taken by Jason Rainforest during the evening.

James Chambers took the following photos during the afternoon and evening.  Full size versions can be viewed by clicking on the thumbnails, which will take you to his 2001 Photos page.

Significant AWS Observations
 

January 17 (afternoon and evening)

Casino Airport (NE NSW) reported a max rain rate of 284mm/h when 14.2mm fell in 3 minutes to 6.23pm. This was followed by 7.2mm in 2 minutes (216mm/h) to 6.25pm - so 21.4mm fell in 5 minutes.

The strongest wind gust at Casino Airport was 109km/h (58 knots) at 6.15pm, with a sustained wind speed of 82km/h.

Evans Head (coastal NE NSW) reported a gust of 135km/h (sustained 100km/h) at 8.22pm. 

Gold Coast Seaway (SE QLD) AWS recorded a max rain rate of 72mm/h at 8pm, and also a wind gust of 35 knots at 9:56pm.
 

January 18 (early morning)

Archerfield Airport (SE QLD) AWS recorded a max rain rate of 72mm/h at 7:07am.
 
 

Summary of Significant Observations and Reports

1 person was killed in SE QLD after touching a live power line which had fallen during the storms.  In total, in SE QLD and NE NSW, 27 people were injured.

Hail up to 4cm in size was experienced by 2 NE NSW storm chasers.  Hail to 6cm was photographed after the storm occurred.  9cm hail was officially reported and measured by a BOM observer,  and hail to 10cm was unofficially reported from an independent observer.

The NE NSW town of Casino was declared a disaster area, with several houses/buildings suffering severe damage.

The towns of Kyogle (NE NSW) and Rathdowny (SE QLD) both suffered significant damage, with roofs blown off and trees and branches stripped by hail.

Over 60 000 premises were blacked out in SE QLD at the height of the storms.

Approx 120 houses on the Gold Coast damaged by hail and/or strong winds.  Areas suffering the most damage include Palm Beach, Nerang and Ashmore.

27 homes at Woody Point (SE suburb of Redcliffe) suffered hail damage.  One of these houses, which i personally saw, had almost every single window broken.  I spoke at length with the owners, who reported hail to tennis ball size.  Local media reports included footage of this hail (tennis ball size) falling.

23 homes in the Mt Nebo and Samford area suffered hail damage.  There were also unconfirmed reports of another town in this area suffering severe hail damage.

Scattered reports of widespread tree damage, local flooding and house damage (with water entering some houses) from Beenleigh, SE Logan and Beaudesert and the bayside suburbs of Brisbane.

Some residents in southern Bayside suburbs (between Brisbane and the Gold Coast) reported the winds to "swirl" during the storms on the 17th.  Winds up to 135km/h were recorded by the BOM in this area.

Hail up to 5cm in size was reported from several Brisbane suburbs early in the morning on the 18th.
 

Credits

Thanks to the Bureau of Meteorology, Beenleigh SES, Pine Rivers SES, Redcliffe SES and ASWA VIce President Anthony Cornelius for damage information.

Thanks to Laurier Williams from Australian Weather Links and News for providing the AWS information from Casino, and also other AWS information which he provides here.