UPDATE: A powerful storm has left thousands of residents in Brisbane without power on this Christmas Eve. As of now, over 3,000 households are experiencing outages, primarily in the Clayfield area, where 1,845 households remain affected.
The storm, which struck Brisbane on December 24, 2023, has been marked by a staggering 50,000 lightning strikes across south-east Queensland. In the aftermath, approximately 1,204 households in the Indooroopilly and Chapel Hill areas have had their power restored, but many are still in the dark.
The situation is dire, with residents along the Sunshine Coast also feeling the impact; initial reports indicated that 1,076 households were without power, though restoration efforts have seen that number drop to 710 households still affected.
Energex crews are on standby, working tirelessly to restore power as safely and quickly as possible. A spokesperson stated,
“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.”
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings for heavy rainfall across the Greater Brisbane Area, including adjacent regions such as the Sunshine Coast and Southern Downs. The storm cells are expected to persist into Christmas Day, with significant rainfall already recorded—44mm in Toowong within just half an hour.
As of 4:30 PM, the potential for hail in affected areas remains. Minor outages have been reported, with some residents experiencing brief power interruptions. Officials are urging residents to stay safe and await updates on power restoration timelines through the Outage Finder tool.
With storms forecast to continue through the afternoon and tapering off overnight, the urgency for power restoration is critical as families prepare for Christmas Day. The heatwave warning has been lifted, and temperatures are expected to cool throughout the week, offering some relief.
Residents are encouraged to share their experiences and updates on social media as the community rallies together during this challenging time. Stay tuned for more updates as the situation develops.
