Storms bring chaos to south-east Queensland while heatwave lingers
Wild storms flattened trees across south-east Queensland while a heatwave has persisted across the state.
Wind gusts of up to 93km/h were recorded sending heavy rain sideways at Coolangatta.
"We just had a little tornado come through," one Coolangatta local said.
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Wild storms flattened trees across southeast Queensland while a heatwave has persisted across the state. Nine
Trees were also brought down on the NSW side of the border.
Two truck drivers had a close call when a tree came down on their windscreen in Kingscliff.
A childcare centre in the Tweed region was damaged by the storms as well.
Two truck drivers had a close call when a tree came down on their windscreen in Kingscliff. Nine
Freckles Centre manager Kelly said it was the "fright of our lives, but the kids are OK".
High winds toppled scaffolding at a Coolangatta fish and chip shop and caused a brief power outage at the Gold Coast Airport.
At Cape Byron, winds were clocked at up to 113km/h.
Heatwave puts pressure on energy grid
The Queensland government is going to extreme lengths to avoid power surges as the state swelters through a heatwave.
In an email sent out today obtained by the Brisbane Times, the state Department of Public Works and Housing issued a list of guidelines for staff, including a request to turn off computer screens and not plug in laptops.
Staff were asked to close blinds or curtains, to run laptops on battery mode, turn off all but one printer, switch off unnecessary lights and delay activities like large print jobs which may use a lot of energy.
Large parts of Queensland are sweltering through a severe heatwave. 9News
The email also suggested some managers in government-owned or leased buildings may want to limit the use of lifts to just one and shut down air conditioning 30 minutes early.
"All staff are requested to undertake some, or all, of the following initiatives appropriate to your floor or workspace," the email read.
The requests were sent to department workers to "avoid forced blackouts" but the email emphasised staff "comfort, productivity and safety" was still a priority.
The mercury in some parts of Queensland is forecast to nudge above 40 degrees today and tomorrow.
A three-day severe heatwave warning is in place for large parts of the state.
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The Bureau of Meteorology warned Brisbane could soar to 37 degrees tomorrow, while Ipswich and Gatton could reach tops of 35 degrees today.
More than 14,000 homes across south-east Queensland lost power yesterday as suburbs sweltered through spiking temperatures.
Scorching temperatures reaching the mid to high 40s in some areas contributed to the power outages.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned Brisbane could soar to 37 degrees tomorrow. 9News
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Birdsville recorded a maximum of 47 degrees, while Roma and Charleville sweated through a top of 42 degrees.
The BoM has warned the heat could bring dangerous and severe storms later today.
Storms are forecast later today for Brisbane, Toowoomba, Surfers Paradise, Noosa Heads and Cairns, while temperatures are hitting the mid-30s.
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