Warwick region hammered by damaging wind and rain
DAMAGING winds and rain pushed through Warwick on Friday night, leaving streets strewn with fallen branches and many residents without power.
Meteorologist Michelle Berry said the gusty conditions were associated with a low pressure system which drifted southwards on Friday evening to bring about 80kmh winds between 7 and 8pm.
The low brought with it a 24-hour rainfall total of 52mm: the heaviest May rainfall total recorded for Warwick since 2009.
Ergon energy crews worked to restore power to more than 4500 homes across Queensland's south which had their supply interrupted by the storm.
Ergon Communications manager Rod Rehbein said all but one of the feeder lines were restored by Saturday morning.
"Destructive winds brought trees down on powerlines in multiple locations, although the damage was largely confined to the town area," Mr Rehbein said.
"Crews from Stanthorpe and Toowoomba helped us to get most customers' power on by 6pm Saturday night."
Sergeant Shane Reid of Warwick police said they had responded to numerous electronic alarms set off by power failures, and incidents of trees and powerlines - some live - being brought down over roads and houses.
"The wind and rain caused flooding to occur as the Condamine River received a total rainfall of nine inches overnight at Killarney, peaking at about five and half metres at 2am Saturday morning," he said.
Police closed Park Rd to traffic when it was submerged by floodwaters on Saturday night.
Federation Park and some sports ovals at Queens Park were also flooded, though the flood level remained steady and below minor at 0.31m late yesterday morning.
The BOM's Ms Berry said the weather had subsided greatly as the low continued to move south into New South Wales, with only very light showers and low winds expected before a finer period in the coming week.
Forecast
The storms have cleared, with sunnier days on their way:
Today: 11-25. Partly cloudy, light winds
Tues: 11-25. Mostly sunny
Wed: 10-25. Sunny
Thurs: 9-23. Mostly sunny
Fri: 9-22. Mostly sunny
Sat: 8-22. Sunny
