‘Mini-tornado’ hits Caloundra

• BY India News Newsdesk
• November 13, 2016
• 0 COMMENTS

A storm described as a “mini-tornado” has swept through the Caloundra area and caused serious damage at a caravan park.

Residents of Dicky Beach Caravn Park huddled in their vans as the vicious storm swept through, bringing down trees and causing thouands of dollars worth of damage.   “It only lasted five minutes but it was just like a tornado going through,” one park resident said.   “The wind was swirling around and it took roofs off vans and brought trees down onto vans.   “It’s done some serious damage.   “We were right in the line of fire.   “There are at least 20 vans damaged.   “It was just horrific. It’s like a war zone here.”

UPDATE 4.30pm: Severe thunderstorms are bearing down on Double Island Point, Rainbow Beach, Gympie and areas south of Gympie.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned destructive winds and large hailstones are likely to fall from these storm cells, as well as severe storms in the Brisbane CBD very dangerous thunderstorms near Peel Island and North Stradbroke Island.

A wind gust reaching 106kmh was recorded at Brisbane Airport just after 3pm.

Thunderstorm warnings remain in place for the Sunshine Coast, as well as the Wide Bay and Burnett and the south-east coast, as well as further north in the state.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce destructive winds, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and large hailstones over the next several hours, the Bureau has warned.

UPDATE: The Bureau of Meteorology has issued another storm warning, saying severe thunderstorms are likely to drop large hail stones from north of Gympie to Moreton Bay.

The storms are expected to affect Maroochydore, Noosa, Caboolture and Caloundra, as well as Gympie and Moreton Bay and its islands.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:

• Move your car under cover or away from trees.
• Secure loose outdoor items.
• Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm.
• Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.
• For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

BREAKING: A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for the Noosa and Gympie Council areas.

The Bureau of Meteorology has detected severe thunderstorms on the weather radar to the west of Gympie.

The storms are moving east and are forecast to affect ranges between Gympie and Murgon by 2.35pm and possibly Gympie by 3.05pm

Damaging winds and large hailstones are likely.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:

• Move your car under cover or away from trees.
• Secure loose outdoor items.
• Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm.
• Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.
• For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

Source: http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/threat-severe-thunderstorm-looms/3111236/