Residents say the sky darkened without warning before giant hailstones slammed into homes and cars in Redcliffe and nearby suburbs, putting the Moreton Bay region at the centre of a fierce storm outbreak that cut power to tens of thousands across south-east Queensland.
On Monday, 24 November, the Bureau of Meteorology reported hail as large as 11 centimetres in several suburbs as a powerful storm front swept from the New South Wales border through Brisbane, Redcliffe, and the rest of Moreton Bay, then further north to the Sunshine Coast. Destructive winds and intense lightning brought down hundreds of powerlines as the system moved towards Caboolture, Strathpine, Redcliffe, Maroochydore and Caloundra.
Life on the peninsula as the storm arrived
In Redcliffe, the storm rolled in fast. The air felt heavy and strange, and many people stepping outside for a moment saw the sky shift colour before the first stones fell. Some residents watched hail the size of golf balls bounce down their driveways before larger chunks began smashing into cars and windows. Others hurried to move vehicles under cover, but the worst of the storm arrived too quickly for many to prepare.
As the storm peaked, videos and photos posted online showed lawns turning white and gutters overflowing with hail. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed that the northern edge of Brisbane and the coastal strip through Redcliffe and Caboolture sat directly in the path of the strongest storm cells. Moreton Bay logged some of the highest numbers of damage calls as families worked late into the evening trying to limit further water damage to their homes.
Across the region, emergency crews moved rapidly between jobs, but the number of calls from Redcliffe, Deception Bay, Strathpine and Caboolture quickly built up. Residents said the sound of hail hitting metal roofs was so loud that some struggled to hear each other indoors. When the gusts hit, they pushed branches against windows and sent loose items skidding along footpaths.
Warnings that came long before the first hailstone
Earlier in the day, the Bureau of Meteorology posted a public alert warning that very dangerous storm-producing giant hail was pushing north through Brisbane towards Caboolture. The message said severe thunderstorms were already affecting the Brisbane CBD, Redcliffe, Strathpine, Maroochydore and Caloundra. Many in Moreton Bay who saw the alert later said they did not expect the storm to escalate as quickly as it did.
By late afternoon, Energex had more than 600 fallen powerlines and more than 525,000 lightning strikes had been recorded. Around 95,000 homes and businesses were still without electricity the next morning, with Moreton Bay among the worst affected.
The storm left families stepping into yards covered in debris, listing damaged roof tiles and branches scattered across lawns. Neighbours checked in on one another, sharing torches, blankets, and updates as crews worked late into the night. Volunteers offered help online, helping households patch windows, move broken items and clear driveways so people could leave for work the next day.
Published 25-Nov-2025
