Severe storms drop hailstones the size of golf and tennis balls along coast and hinterland, damaging cars and houses
Hailstones the size of tennis balls have pelted parts of south-east Queensland as severe thunderstorms swept through the area.
A Bureau of Meteorology severe weather warning was issued for Redland, North Stradbroke Island, parts of the Gold Coast, Logan, Gympie and the Sunshine Coast.
The storms, which battered other parts of the region earlier on Saturday, were travelling in a east-north-east. The bureau said Double Island Point, Rainbow Beach, the Wide Bay, Mount Cotton, Macleay Island and Victoria Point were in the path of the "very dangerous" thunderstorms with the potential for destructive winds and large hailstones.
Tennis ball sized hail was reported at Buderim on the Sunshine Coast and there were reports of large hail across the Mooloolah Valley, Maroochydore and Greenbank.
Ian Masterman, who runs the Attic Cafe on the Sunshine Coast, said hailstones the size of golf balls hit the area early on Saturday afternoon.
"I've never seen anything like this before," said the 51-year-old, who has lived on the Sunshine Coast since 2000.
"They were bouncing off the ground and we were worried they were going to smash the windows.
"You could hear windows on the cars smashing outside … we brought the garden pots inside."
The community safety department said about 100 storm-related calls had been made to the State Emergency Service by 3pm on Saturday.
Most of the calls related to damage to homes from hail or heavy rain.
Emergency Management Queensland advised residents to move cars under cover and secure loose outdoor items.
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