Australian state Queensland is bracing itself as a thunderstorm marked "very dangerous" is headed to the south-east part of the state, which include Beenleigh, Logan City, Woodridge, Brisbane and others.
"Very dangerous thunderstorms are forecast to affect Beenleigh, Logan City, Woodridge, Sunnybank Hills, Wacol and Archerfield by 3.25pm (AEST) and Brisbane CBD, Cleveland, Wynnum, Enoggera, Brisbane Airport and Nudgee by 3:55 pm (AEST)," the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Queenslanders have been warned and a community safety plan meant for cyclones has been activated for the extreme heatwave this weekend. Most of the state will have to deal with temperatures of 10 degree above December averages from December 1. The state will face maximum temperature on Friday, ranging between 38C and 41C forecast for Brisbane and Ipswich.
In what seems to be the first casualty of the dangerous storm, a woman was struck by lightning when she was standing close to an electric pole in Helensvale on the Gold Coast and has been taken to the hospital. A teenager was also taken to the hospital after a tree fell on him in Forest Lake in Brisbane.
#SevereStorm warning updated for #SEQld with parts of Brisbane now at risk. #Bnestorm. Check the warnings at https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/fi63mL2y59
— BOM Queensland (@BOM_Qld) November 30, 2016
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services are advising people to move their cars under cover or away from trees, secure loose outdoor items, seek shelter (preferably indoors and not under trees), avoid using telephone during the thunderstorm and beware of fallen trees and powerlines.
Drivers pulled over approaching Browns Plains pic.twitter.com/C4GfEMdAiI
— Michael Best (@michaelbesty) November 30, 2016
Brisbane has been experiencing 16.6mm rain since 9am, according to the bureau.
"Damaging winds, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and large hailstones are likely. A more general severe thunderstorm warning is also current for parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett and Southeast Coast districts," the bureau said.
"Central-Beenleigh train has been cancelled due to severe weather, delays of 30 mins for Ferny Grove line trains, in both directions, due to severe weather, Ferny Grove-Central train has been cancelled due to severe weather and Central-Kuraby train has been cancelled due to severe weather," tweeted Queensland Rail.
