One dead in severe Brisbane storm

A motorcyclist is dead after hail and strong winds battered suburbs between Brisbane
and the Gold Coast, causing traffic chaos.
The motorcyclist died in a crash with a car during a severe hailstorm on Mt Cotton
Road, Thornlands, on Brisbane's bayside at 4pm (AEST) on Wednesday, police said.
Police have warned motorists to avoid the area, urging them to drive carefully.
Logan and Jimboomba are among the worst affected areas with reports of a
mini-tornado ripping up trees and power poles.
A State Emergency Service (SES) spokeswoman told AAP that volunteers had been called
out to 30 jobs.
She said crews were repairing roofs damaged by hailstones and removing fallen trees.
An Energex spokesman told AAP that 32,000 homes and businesses were without power on
Wednesday evening.
He said the power outages, extending from Logan, Beaudesert and Jimboomba to Manly
and Wynnum, could last for several hours while crews waited for a break in the
weather to restore electricity power to homes.
Passengers at Brisbane Airport can expect delays collecting their baggage.
An airport spokeswoman told AAP, baggage handlers were forced to stop work unloading
planes on the tarmac on Wednesday afternoon because of lightning strikes.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Bryan Rolstone said the thunderstorm had
produced 5cm hailstones in some areas.
A severe thunderstorm warning was in place for southeast Queensland with damaging
wind, flash flooding and large hailstones expected.
The storm front has hit Brisbane city, Redland, Gold Coast, Logan, Moreton Bay and
Scenic Rim council areas.