A severe thunderstorm is forecast for Brisbane on Thursday morning, with the weather bureau warning residents in the city's west to secure vehicles and prepare for power outages. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning for flash flooding between the Sunshine Coast and the state border, including Brisbane, Caboolture, and the Gold Coast hinterland, across Thursday.
A storm travelling south had already dumped more than 100 millimetres of rain on Caboolture and Morayfield over two hours from 4.15am. In that period, Burpengary received 93 millimetres of rain. Over the past 24 hours, the area had recorded more than 150 millimetres of rain.
Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said the region had experienced a few smaller storms, but noted the storm season generally had been less intense than in previous years.
The weather bureau predicted the storm would sit over Brisbane's north-western suburbs by 7am, including Strathpine, Upper Brookfield and Enoggera Reservoir. By 7.30am, the storm was forecast to have moved across the western suburbs to Ipswich, Bundamba Lagoon and Redbank Plains.
Residents were advised to move vehicles away from trees or park them undercover, secure pets and close windows. The weather bureau also strongly discouraged driving as the storm passed overhead. "Go inside a strong building now. Stay inside until the storm has passed," the warning read.
Energex had yet to record any electricity outages just before 7am.