Australia's east coast is still experiencing some 'very dangerous storms', with thousands of homes losing power on Christmas Eve.
Shocking images from Kensington in Sydney's eastern suburbs show vehicles stranded in flash flooding after a strong thunderstorm swept through the city on Sunday.
The video taken by a bus passenger driving down the road shows them standing on their seats as the floor of the bus becomes covered in flowing water.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned of severe thunderstorms likely to bring damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding in Sydney and along the south and north coasts of NSW on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology forecast the severe thunderstorms for residents of Redland City, Brisbane City and parts of Logan, Somerset, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay and Ipswich Council Areas.
Energex reports that almost 57,000 homes in Queensland were without power as of 3.30pm, while about 151,000 reached the state's south-east in two hours.
Australia's east coast is currently experiencing severe storms as tens of thousands of homes in Queensland lose power (stock image)
The northbound Brisbane Valley Highway in Coominya was partially closed due to multiple trees at 12.30pm, with motorists urged to find an alternative route.
Queensland Police have also warned that there have been reports of fallen trees, downed power lines and flash flooding in south-east Queensland, including Holland Park, Tamborine Mountain, Elimbah, Beenleigh, Russell Island, Upper Coomera, Toowong, Scenic Rim , Marsden, Logan, Carina, Greenbank and the Gold Coast.
Emergency services are working hard to remove a fallen tree on Frederick St, Toowong, which has hit power lines.
“A crane will be required to remove the tree as the road is likely to be closed until the early hours of Christmas morning,” Queensland Police said.
Bureau Meteorologist Angus Hines said Australia's eastern states were “in the middle of an outbreak of thunderstorms”.
“With potential severe weather in the coming dew days, the risk of flash flooding is high,” NSW SES warned.
“If people are out and about at Christmas, we ask that you make smart decisions and if it's flooded, forget it.”
The Bureau's latest warning states that people in the Southeast Coast and parts of Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central West, Wide Bay and Burnett, Maranoa and Warrego and Darling Downs and Granite Belt Forecast Districts should be alert for thunderstorms.
An upper trough is moving over southeastern Queensland, producing thunderstorms in a moist and unstable air mass,” the Bureau said.
“Intense thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding, damaging winds and large hailstones in the warning area over the next few hours.”
Locations that may also be affected include Toowoomba, Brisbane, Dalby, Kingaroy, Ipswich and Nanango.
Sydney received heavy rainfall on Sunday afternoon, hitting the city's eastern suburbs with flash flooding that left vehicles stranded (pictured)
One vehicle stranded on Anzac Parade in Kensington had to be rescued by SES (pictured)
Meanwhile, parts of Somerset, South Burnett, Toowoomba and Moreton Bay Council Areas are also on alert as another very dangerous thunderstorm develops west of Kilcoy.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned at 1.20pm that a severe thunderstorm was detected near the area north of Crows Nest and the area west of Toogoolawah and is likely to bring heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding, damaging winds and large hailstones.
This thunderstorm is moving towards the northeast.
The area west of Kilcoy, Blackbutt and Linville is expected to be affected at 1.50pm and Kilcoy, Mount Kilcoy and the mountain ranges south of Jimna at 2.20pm.
Intensive rain showers could cause dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding near the Samford and D'Aguilar Ranges, with the thunderstorm moving in a northeasterly direction.
“It is expected to affect Strathpine, Redcliffe and Caboolture at 12.05pm and Comboyuro Point, the waters off Bribie Island and northern Bribie Island, at 12.35pm,” the weather authority warned.
Footage of a bus passenger traveling along Anzac Parade shows they had to stand on their seats as the floor of the bus was flooded as it traversed the flash floods (pictured)
A further line of thunderstorms is forecast to hit Cleveland, Mud Island and southern Moreton Island at 12.05pm, before flowing into North Stradbroke Island at 12.35pm.
Residents are urged not to drive and to stay indoors until the storm passes. People should also avoid standing near doors and windows during giant hail.
Asthma patients are also advised to keep their medications close by, as storms and wind can trigger attacks.
Severe thunderstorm warnings for NSW, including the Sydney region, were canceled shortly after 1.30pm after severe storm cells moved offshore.
Residents have been asked to pay attention to warnings as wild weather is forecast across most of the state this afternoon.
Potentially severe storms have also been forecast for Victoria.
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said the activity was expected to peak on Sunday afternoon.
“The specific area where we are likely to see severe thunderstorms is around south-east Queensland, including the Brisbane region and north-eastern NSW,” he said.
NSW SES has warned those hitting the road on Christmas Day to remain vigilant as the Bureau of Meteorology predicts storms will continue until Monday (pictured)
“We could see some of those thunderstorms become very large and very intense, potentially causing damage with destructive wind gusts, heavy to locally intense rainfall and large or even giant hail like we saw yesterday.”
On Sunday morning, BOM issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of central Queensland, with the risk of damaging winds, heavy rain and large hail.
This follows a wave of severe storms on Saturday, with high temperatures fueling weather activity.
The current warning applies to areas in the southern Darling Downs and Granite Belt district, but the weather authority said activity is likely to move eastwards in the coming hours.
Melbourne's Carols by Candlelight is also facing a possible washout, with a high chance of showers and a possible thunderstorm for the late afternoon and evening. The outdoor event kicks off from 8pm at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, with organizers confident the show will go ahead rain, hail or shine.
The Bureau warned that a low-pressure system developing on the NSW-Victoria border will drag storm risk “over much of Victoria” on Christmas Eve, bringing wet weather during the day.
“Showers naturally tend to be a bit spotty and variable – so there's still a chance we might get the carolers in a dry spot, but there is a risk of showers in Melbourne City at that time of day,” said Mr. Hines. While eastern states could experience a wet Christmas, multiple severe heatwave warnings remain in force for Western Australia.
Areas in Queensland are expected to receive large amounts of rain in a short period of time and even hail on Sunday and Monday (pictured)
The Bureau has issued a warning for the Pilbara, Gascoyne, North Interior and South Interior districts, where temperatures could reach 45 degrees Celsius.
BOM senior forecaster Felim Hanniffy said the storms on the east coast would continue until Boxing Day.
“That means the risk of massive hail, devastating winds and intense rainfall, all driven by a very significant weather system,” he said.
'That will affect several states, so Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, and is linked to a developing low-pressure system that will spin over parts of Victoria and southern New South Wales and then slowly move eastwards and eventually offshore. for about Tuesday.
“That includes the high demographic areas of Newcastle, Sydney and even Canberra, as well as as far away as Victoria and Melbourne.”
The warning currently applies until Boxing Day.
