A ‘mini-tornado’ ripped through parts of Queensland on Sunday bringing the strongest winds in more than 30 years.
Three planes were damaged at Brisbane Airport as cyclone-strength gusts of 160km/h sent sets of stairs and a water tank flying across the tarmac.
Dozens of flights were also delayed or diverted after the runway lights lost power, with 17,000 homes across the state’s south east also left without electricity.
Elsewhere tennis-ball sized hailstones damaged homes and cars while more than 70,000 lightning strikes were recorded in just a few hours.
Brisbane Airport appeared to have weathered the worst of the storm, with winds equivalent to a Category Two hurricane recorded yesterday afternoon, The Courier-Mail reported.
A Qantas Link aircraft was left with a smashed window and several holes punctured in the side after a set of boarding stairs was blown into it.
Another Qantas plane had part of the right-hand jet engine ripped open after another set of stairs barreled into the side of it.
Jetstar also suffered amid the storms as a water tank was sent flying, only coming to a stop after hitting one of the company’s aircraft.
Dramatic video shows the moment one of the Qantas planes was hit, with driving rain and fierce winds visible out of the window.
Departing flights were also delayed, with some people waiting up to three hours in order to get into the air.
Inbound planes were either diverted or delayed after a problem with the runway lights, meaning they could not land.
Weather bureau forecaster David Grant told the Courier Mail: ‘I guess you would probably rate it as quite a significant thunderstorm event, particularly considering that Brisbane Airport hasn’t recorded a wind gust like this in around 30 years.’
Despite the severe weather an airport spokesman said no aircraft was seriously damaged, while runway power was restored later the same day.
At the nearby Port of Brisbane, winds were strong enough to topple shipping containers like dominoes, with more than 100 being toppled over.
Trains were also delayed across the south-east due to downed trees, while around 70 powerlines were sent flying, causing more than 30,000 blackouts from Cairns to the Gold Coast.
In Dickie Beach Holiday Park, north of Brisbane, guests said they were forced to shelter in their vans as the storm tore through, tearing roofs off some while bringing trees crashing down on to others.
Further north residents of Gympie also saw roofs torn off buildings, with one nut farmer saying the roof of his storage shed was sent sailing 100m in the air – clearing the road and a church building opposite and landing in the paddock behind.
Continuing north the town of Maryborough was pummeled by hailstones the size of tennis balls which dented cars and smashed windows across town.
Up to 32mm of rain fell across Brisbane with tree branches and debris wreaking havoc.
The SES reported 100 calls for help as the state dealt with relentless storms.
Beaches were shut across the south east border with Noosa, Bribie Island and Peregian all closed.
Earlier in the day Brisbane had been experiencing its warmest day since February, with temperatures of 36C in some parts at 1.30pm before the storms rolled in.
The weather is looking better for the state next week with south-east Queensland looking at clearer weather and tops of just under 30 degrees.
By CHRIS PLEASANCE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
PUBLISHED: 18:19 EST, 13 November 2016 | UPDATED: 19:13 EST, 13 November 2016
Photo by Airline Hub Buzz “Brisbane Airport was hit with cyclone-strength winds of up to 160km/h yesterday afternoon, sending aircraft stairs rolling into aircraft”
